Bret Devereaux, a Remnant fan favorite, returns to Jonah Goldberg’s Flavian Amphitheater to discuss the world’s oldest counterfactual, the holy grail of source material for classicists, and the top three generals of Western antiquity. Plus: coverage of Ukraine’s recent drone strikes and the contemporary applications of ancient military history. Show Notes: — Explore “A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry” — Alexander Goes West (A Silly Counterfactual) The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch ,...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 18 min
Jonah Goldberg has realized that, if you name drop Leo Strauss enough, you’re eventually going to have to explain who you’re talking about. As the benevolent educator of The Remnant masses, Jonah has conspired with Steven Smith, a Straussian expert and professor of political science and philosophy at Yale University, to deliver this deep dive on the life and work of Leo Strauss. Jonah and Steven dig into the fundamentals of Strauss’ work, the debate between the East Coast and West Coast Straussi...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 25 min
Jonah Goldberg is cranky, hungover, and ready to dive into discussion of Elon Musk and his departure from DOGE, the moral degradation of traditional conservatism, the cult of winning on the right, and the vilification of the judiciary.Show Notes — The Wednesday G-File on the cowboys of suburbia — “Don’t Call This Conservatism” — Peter Berkowitz on “Don’t Call This Conservatism” The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non...
May 31, 2025•1 hr 18 min
Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson join Jonah Goldberg to discuss their new book that has taken Washington by storm, Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. Tapper and Thompson discuss what top Democrats knew about Biden’s cognitive decline prior to him launching his reelection campaign, the boiling frogs mentality of Biden’s advisers, and the media’s role in reporting—or not reporting—this story in real time. Show Notes — Order Original Sin here...
May 29, 2025•1 hr 29 min
Phil Magness, occupant of the David Theroux Chair at the Independent Institute, drops by Casa de Remnant to discuss the corrupting effect of tariffs, why Karl Marx is overrated, the evolving definitions of intellectual movements, and Jonah Goldberg’s gripes about romanticism. Show Notes: — The 1619 Project Myth — Phil for the Cato Institute: ”The Problem of the Tariff in American Economic History, 1787–1934” The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company covering politics,...
May 28, 2025•1 hr 19 min
Jonah Goldberg, once again vindicated for his both-sidesism, ruminates upon the big beautiful bill, the American tradition of disputing facts by attacking motives, and the endemic media hypocrisy from every angle.Plus: kudos to the Supreme Court and kayfabe in the Oval Office. Show Notes: — John McWhorter on The Remnant — This week’s Dispatch Podcast Roundtable: “Biden’s Big Beautiful Cover Up” — Jonah’s LA Times column: “History alone should have made more reporters skeptical about Biden’s heal...
May 24, 2025•1 hr 20 min
Jonah Goldberg has found himself in some serious legal trouble, forcing him to invite Sarah Isgur to Chez Remnant to talk horrible bosses, the 14th Amendment, Kristi Noem’s loose grasp of habeas corpus, and the increasing ennui associated with American politics. Plus: Sarah and Jonah’s sage advice for the class of 2025 and the Isgur-Goldberg love line segment. The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conserv...
May 22, 2025•1 hr 24 min
Jonah Goldberg is joined by Dr. Leon Aron for some Remnant -style Kremlinology. Jonah and Dr. Aron discuss Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s relationship, the state of the war in Ukraine, and what will happen to Russia without Putin at the helm. Plus: a long march through Russian history and the precarious position of top Russian military brass. Show Notes: — Dr. Leon Aron’s American Enterprise Institute page — Leon in Politico : “7 Critical Things Trump Doesn’t Understand about Putin” The Remna...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Jonah Goldberg is up with the sun and ready to expand upon his Monday mega-essay in The Dispatch, lament all things popular front, analyze James Comey’s seashell art photography, and discuss the upcoming exposé on Joe Biden’s cognitive decline. Plus: the misnomer of mainstream media and a scolding for Congress. Show Notes: —Jonah’s Monday Essay: “ Don’t Call This Conservatism ” —Claire Lehmann for The Dispatch: “ Feelings, Facts, and Our Crisis of Truth ” —Jonah’s Los Angeles Times column: “ The...
May 17, 2025•1 hr 31 min
Jonah Goldberg is joined by author and journalist Phil Tinline to discuss his new book, Ghosts of Iron Mountain: The Hoax of the Century, Its Enduring Impact, and What It Reveals About America Today. Phil tells the tale of conspiracies gone by, arguing that hoaxes, crackpottery, and moral panics are as American as apple pie. Show Notes: — Order Phil’s book, Ghosts of Iron Mountain: The Hoax of the Century, Its Enduring Impact, and What It Reveals About America Today. The Remnant is a production ...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Former Sen. Phil Gramm joins Jonah Goldberg to discuss his new book, The Triumph of Economic Freedom: Debunking the Seven Great Myths of American Capitalism. Phil and Jonah reminisce on the triumphs of the Industrial Revolution, better days in Congress, and Ronald Reagan’s disdain for protectionism. Show Notes: —Order Sen. Gramm’s book, The Triumph of Economic Freedom: Debunking the Seven Great Myths of American Capitalism The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company cov...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Jonah Goldberg ruminates upon the papal news, the dingo’s fly assassination skills, Columbia University’s new president, yet another unpronounceable German political philosophy theory, Joe Biden’s definition of misogyny, and Trump’s new threat to the film industry. Show Notes: — This week’s Dispatch Podcast roundtable: "Vengeance Agenda ” — Commentary Magazine Podcast: "Lights! Camera! Tariffs! ” — Kevin Williamson for The Dispatch : “Trump Is a Socialist” — Claire Lehmann for The Dispatch : “Fe...
May 10, 2025•1 hr 20 min
AEI senior fellow Christine Emba joins Jonah Goldberg to discuss degenerating dating dynamics, the gender divide and its effect on politics, and the roots of the late-stage culture war. Show Notes: — Christine’s AEI page — Order Rethinking Sex: A Provocation The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including Jonah’s G-File newsletter, regula...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Two maudlin and romantic dolls (Jonah Goldberg and Chris Stirewalt) come together to discuss the revival of Alcatraz, the future of the MAGA movement without Trump, and the skewed self-perception of American voters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 07, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Jonah Goldberg explains how Donald Trump's economic agenda is fundamentally a left-wing one and the Rousseauian roots of his nationalism. Show Notes: — Friday's G-File — Trump's interview with Time The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including Jonah’s G-File newsletter, regular livestreams, and other members-only content— click here . L...
May 03, 2025•1 hr 28 min
Manic and frazzled, Jonah Goldberg turned for help from in-house Remnant psychologist Paul Bloom. They explore intellectual esoterica, check what Noam Chomsky got wrong, explore Large Language Models, and fret over the age of artificial consciousness and AI girlfriends. Show Notes: — Paul’s Substack — Paul on Substack "Is it nature or is it nurture?" is a damn good question” The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-pa...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 18 min
Is Donald Trump Hitler? A Chavista? Or a caudillo? Jonah Goldberg is joined by fellow podcast extraordinaire Michael Moynihan to answer this obviously important and salient question. (Plus: The lost potential of Elon Musk and more on the right’s Gramsci turn.) Show Notes: — Batya Ungar-Sargon on The Fifth Column — The Ruminant on Antonio Gramsci — Moynihan ’ s previous appearance on The Remnant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 33 min
A dramatic week of big acquisitions left Jonah tired, but ranty. Brace for some I Told You So’s, “abundance” horseshoe theory, Trumpworld triangulations, and blue-on-blue violence. Show Notes: — The SCOTUSblog acquisition — Wednesday’s uncontroversial G-File — Kevin Williamson’s critique of the "abundance" Democrats — Jamie Weinstein and Larry Diamond on The Dispatch Podcast The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-pa...
Apr 26, 2025•1 hr 25 min
David Bahnsen, a fan favorite and friend of the pod, stops by the show to discuss his new book, Full Time: Work and the Meaning of Life with Jonah Goldberg . Jonah and David cover the China question, U.S. reliability, and Kevin Hassett’s antics. Show Notes: — David’s book, Full Time: Work and the Meaning of Life — The Wall Street Journal : “Meet MAGA’s Favorite Communist” The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-parti...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 28 min
Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes make their Remnant debut to discuss their buzzy new book, Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House. Jonah Goldberg and the authors dig into the nitty-gritty of all three 2024 presidential bids, that debate, Kamala Harris’ ascension and missteps, and the story of Joe Biden’s decline. Show Notes: — Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company covering politics, policy, and cultu...
Apr 23, 2025•59 min
Jonah Goldberg spends ninety minutes plotting his transition to telethon moderation, lambasting the youth, and reminding the new GOP that you can’t pick and choose who gets universal rights. Plus: further ruminations on the bond market and the anniversary of the shot heard ‘round the world. Show Notes: — The Fair Jessica for The Dispatch: ”Revenge of the Title IX Dads” — Advisory Opinions on Humphrey’s Executor — The Wall Street Journal: “Meet MAGA’s Favorite Communist” — G-File: “The Shot Heard...
Apr 19, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Jonah Goldberg responds to Christopher Rufo and his fight to "to recapture the regime and entrench our ideas in the public sphere," using 20th-century Marxist Antonio Gramsci's ideas. This is a bonus Ruminant –– expect your regular Saturday Goldberg variation to arrive at the normal time. Show Notes: — Meet MAGA’s Favorite Communist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Apr 18, 2025•36 min
Jonah Goldberg is rolling like a stone through Ivy League speaking events and is holed up in New Haven to conduct an AMA with the one and only Chris Stirewalt. Topics range from marmot taxonomy, Tom Selleck’s career ethics, Maserati salesman attire, and of course, rank punditry galore. Show Notes: — Continue your education on The Gay Place — Jonah for the Los Angeles Times : “Gov. Whitmer’s party should learn from what she did in the Oval Office” — Ross Douthat for the New York Times : “It’s Tru...
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 26 min
Jonah Goldberg is joined by Adam Kirsch to discuss Kirsch’s new book, On Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice. What does settler colonialism actually mean in the Israeli context? Where did the school of thought originate? And how can Israel move forward under the framework of settler colonialist ideology? Show Notes: — Order Adam’s new book, On Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company covering polit...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 10 min
For your Saturday listening pleasure, Jonah Goldberg ruminates upon the latest Dispatch editorial, the sibylian nature of Suicide of the West, the problems with planned economies, and the back-of-house responsibilities of the federal government. Plus: dunce caps for the “deep state” and the font choices of the first Alien movie. Show Notes: — The latest Dispatch editorial: “Slouching Towards Tyranny” — Yuval Levin: The Great Debate The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media co...
Apr 12, 2025•1 hr 11 min
Jonah Goldberg knows many a public intellectual, but linguist extraordinaire John McWhorter is one of his favorites. John returns to the show to discuss his new book, Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words . Topics include: grammars of the elite, the imposition of language rules, the they- shaped elephant in the room, and the mystery behind the disappearance of “thou.” Show Notes: — Order John’s book, Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words, here — The Finnish Path...
Apr 10, 2025•55 min
Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics at the Cato Institute and a general tariff expert, took some time out of his very busy schedule to talk to Jonah Goldberg about Trump’s trade-deficit delusions,why reciprocal tariffs will harm the United States, and the likelihood of increased inflation as trade tensions rise. Show Notes: — Scott’s Capitolism newsletter for The Dispatch — Scott’s column on trade deficits The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media company cov...
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 17 min
Siri misogyny meets trade policy, while Howard Lutnick’s idiocy fuels debates on markets and democracy. Jonah Goldberg clamors for liberal democratic capitalism supremacy and says a prayer for the global economy, as public-choice theory explains our collective hypocrisy. Show Notes: — Worship at the church of Scott Lincicome — Dominic Pino for National Review : “The Heritage Foundation Was One of Free Trade’s Strongest Supporters” The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch , a digital media com...
Apr 05, 2025•1 hr 26 min
Frustrated with never-ending interstate repairs and constant airline delays, Jonah Goldberg looks to the sky and wonders; Why does nothing work? Marc J. Dunkelman, fellow at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, has the answers. Marc and Jonah discuss the origins and transformation of American progressive policy, the spirit of the NIMBYs, and a bold proclamation that we need even more institutions to achieve good governance. Show Notes: — Order Marc’s book, Wh...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Jonah Goldberg is joined by Luke Coffey, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and Ukraine expert extraordinaire, to discuss his recent visit to the region and the state of the Ukraine-Russia war. Luke and Jonah debate where Ukrainians stand after the infamous Oval Office debacle, the cracks in the Russian army, and the indispensable value of close European alliances—which seem to mean little to MAGA world. Show Notes: — Luke's scholar page at the Hudson Institute The Remnant is a production of ...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr 16 min
