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The Ricochet Podcast

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Weekly episodes of Ricochet’s flagship podcast feature our hosts James Lileks, Steve Hayward, Charles C. W. Cooke, and guests discussing the issues of the week.

Listen to The Ricochet Podcast, along with more than 40 other original podcasts, at Ricochet.com. No paid subscription required.
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Episodes

Civility and Humility

After several weeks of different combos for different reasons, The Big Three® are reunited and bring a power hitting show with them. First up, we talk southern cooking (Rob is hosting from Oxford, Mississippi, site of this year’s Southern Foodways Symposium — and please, it’s a serious symposium — not “an excuse to eat fried chicken…”). Then, the hosts debate impeachment and the White House... Source

Oct 25, 20191 hr 26 minEp. 470

The Policy, Not the Mouth

On this episode of The Big Show® we take you back to last night’s 74th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner where Rob offers a first hand report. The guest of honor was former Defense Secretary (and Marine Corps legend) James Mattis and, of course, the main topic in the hall was the current situation in Syria with Turkey and the Kurds. (The General’s full remarks can be watched on the... Source

Oct 18, 20191 hr 14 minEp. 469

Why Can't We Be Friends?

This week on The Big Show®, we converse about the Kurds, talk about the limits of woke corporatism with David French, and get the low down on Kim Strassel’s new book Resistance (At All Costs): How Trump Haters Are Breaking America (buy it!). Also, Ricochet member @doctorrobert wins this week’s coveted Lileks Post of The Week for his two (!) posts Why We Need People Who Have ‘Too Much Money’ and... Source

Oct 11, 20191 hr 11 minEp. 468

The Elizabethan Era?

Let’s just disclose this right upfront: we had some pretty big technical issues during the production of this show (Skype went down during the Andy McCarthy segment — Andy is preparing a criminal complaint against them on our behalf) and James Lileks could not get his computer to recognize his mic (he blames a cheap Chinese dongle — oh, the humanity), so apologies, this is another Lileks-defecient... Source

Oct 04, 20191 hr 5 minEp. 467

It Smells Better Here

Some weeks, we have to hunt hard for topics. Other weeks, well, they rain down like a monsoon. The latter describes this week and to provide an umbrella we’ve got the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s White House correspondent Debra J. Saunders on the political topics (and a bit on San Francisco) and The Skeptical Environmentalist himself, Bjørn Lomborg, who at this moment, is the world’s second most... Source

Sep 27, 20191 hr 16 minEp. 466

The Class of '87

It’s a bit unusual to find oneself adjacent to the biggest news story of the week, but that’s exactly what happened to our own Rob Long. He, like Brett Kavanaugh, Deborah Ramirez, Max Stier, and Robin Pogrebin are all member of the Yale University Class of 1987. We explore this story in this show in great detail with Byron York (he of The Washington Examiner and our own Byron York Show podcast). Source

Sep 20, 20191 hr 4 minEp. 465

Debate The Debate

This week, Bolton bolts, we debate the debate with The Washington Post’s Henry Olsen, kick around the culture with The Atlantic’s Andrew Ferguson, we’ve got a new Long Poll question for you (but you have to be a Ricochet member to vote), Lileks awards the coveted Member Post of The Week, and some thoughts on the 18th anniversary of 9/11. Music from this week’s show: My City of Ruins by Bruce... Source

Sep 13, 20191 hr 8 minEp. 464

Hello Captain Hi

Here’s what we don’t discuss on this week’s show: not a word about Sharpie markers, maps, or the tracking of certain weather events. Nope, not a word. Here’s what we do talk about: The WSJ’s Kim Strassel stops by to talk about Comey, Mueller, and an investigation that went far off the rails (P.S. feel free to pre-order her new book, which she will discuss in more detail on the show next month). Source

Sep 06, 20191 hrEp. 463

Stop The Coupé

Our final podcast of the summer and it’s a full one: first up, a deep dive into the IG report on James Comey. Then, Andrew Pollack, whose daughter Meadow was murdered at Parkland High School joins to discuss his advocacy on her behalf and his forthcoming book, Why Meadow Died: The People and Policies that Created the Parkland Shooter and Endanger America’s Students. It’s a sobering but important... Source

Aug 30, 20191 hr 7 minEp. 462

Casserole of Mystery

Another busy week (is there any other kind?) and our intrepid podcasters cover it all: is The New York Times‘ 1619 Project the definitive (new) history of the United States? Spoiler alert: no. Hoover Institution and self-titled Grumpy Economist John Cochrane joins to discuss the possibility of a recession, and later, our own (well, by marriage) Seth Mandel (OK, he also edits The Washington... Source

Aug 23, 20191 hr 17 minEp. 461

Buying Greenland?

Hey, don’t laugh — we could do it ( and another President reportedly thought about it too). So yes, we discuss that, a troubled Congressional trip to the Holy Land, the great Kevin Williamson on his new book The Smallest Minority: Independent Thinking in an Age of Mob Politics, and the WSJ’s Bill McGurn on the turmoil in Hong Kong (he knows the city well — he lived for ten years. Also... Source

Aug 16, 20191 hr 8 minEp. 460

Questions

You have questions, our podcasters have answers. We also have a little Rank Punditry® on the current news cycle, some spots, a few laughs. Oh, just listen. You’ll like it. Really. Music from this week’s show: Questions by Jack Johnson... Source

Aug 09, 20191 hr 2 minEp. 459

Justice Served

It’s summer and when people go on vacation, we like to mix things up a bit, with James off this week, we called on our friend and fellow podcaster John Yoo to sit in. That was a fortuitous choice as our guest is Mollie Hemingway, former Ricochet editor, Fox News contributor, and co-author the the best selling book Justice on Trial: The Kavanaugh Confirmation and the Future of the Supreme Court. Source

Aug 02, 20191 hr 15 minEp. 458

All About Boris

When something happens across the pond, we immediately call on the great John O’Sullivan to explain what it all means. He stops by for a complete data drop on the appointment of Boris Johnson to 10 Downing Street. Also, is Mueller time finally over? And does it kill impeachment? All answers lie within the confines of today’s Ricochet Podcast. Music from this week’s show: A Foggy Day by Louis... Source

Jul 26, 20191 hr 11 minEp. 457

The Squad

Due to some scheduling issues, we’re a couple of days early this week but that doesn’t mean we’re scrimping on the content. James is taking this week off, so Rob and Peter drive the bus themselves (as Peter mentions in the show, do check out James’ Twitter feed). We’re not scrimping on the guests either: we’ve got Washington Post chief political correspondent (and former Ricochet podcaster) Bob... Source

Jul 17, 20191 hr 26 minEp. 456

Triumph of The Will

This week, we’re fortunate to be able to access the deep mind of one of the country’s great thinkers and writers, George Will on the occasion of his new book, The Conservative Sensibility. We conduct a long and wide-ranging conversation with him covering everything from the meaning of conservatism, President powers, progressive regulation, and much more. Take our advice: pour yourself a tall... Source

Jul 12, 20191 hr 5 minEp. 455

The Great Debate

A very busy week to cover on this week’s show (even though one of our hosts is already vacation mode — and we apologize in advance for his sometimes spotty audio). We’ve got Jonathan V. Last ( his Democratic Power Rankings are a must read) to parse both of the Dem debates, and the NY Post’s Sohrab Ahmari on the crisis on the border and yes, his criticism of David French and a branch of... Source

Jun 28, 20191 hr 17 minEp. 454

Taking Trips

This week, we reunite the cast and they tell us a bit about their summer trips (or swanky conferences). Then, the EPCC’s Henry Olsen joins us for some rank punditry® on 2020 and Trump’s re-election chances, as well as keeping the Senate and winning back the House. Also, Iran, China, Italy, and yes, Costa Rica. Music from this week’s show: Volare (Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu) by Dean Martin... Source

Jun 22, 20191 hr 6 minEp. 453

Going at it Hammer and Tongs

This episode of America’s Most Trusted Podcast® is notable for both who shows up and who doesn’t. But James Lileks is our rock, welcoming our own Bethany Mandel into the co-host’s chair, and Dr. Samuel Gregg author of the upcoming book, Reason, Faith, and the Struggle for Western Civilization. Then Bethany and James delve into the miniseries, Chernobyl, and explore their, er... Source

Jun 14, 20191 hr 4 minEp. 452

Time For a Grilling

From time to time we eschew having guests here on America’s Most Trusted Podcast® so we can turn the tables on our hosts and allow the membership to ask the questions. (You are a member, right?) After reviewing the President’s trip to Europe and the state of Euro-American relations, Rob Long and James Lileks field your inquiries from the 2020 race to the future of their full time professions. Source

Jun 07, 20191 hr 14 minEp. 451

The Norman Conquests

Only a very few guests warrant two segments on the Ricochet Podcast aka, America’s Most Trusted Podcast® and one of those people is the great Norman Podhoretz (around these parts, we call him “The Podfather). We talk to Norman (who’s a sprightly 89) about his recent conversion to a supporter of the President, the history of the Conservative movement, how he may have singlehandedly invented the... Source

May 30, 20191 hr 7 minEp. 450

Land of Hope and Dreams

This week on America’s Most Trusted Podcast®, we kick off with some home grown commentary about the ongoing Pelosi-Trump drama. Then, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s White House correspondent extraordinaire Deb Saunders joins for an extended and more detailed chat on the same topic. Later, Dr. Bill McClay stops by to discuss his new book, Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story... Source

May 24, 20191 hr 2 minEp. 449

Choices

We go long on this show (and we’re not just talking about one of our hosts, either). First up, the mayor of New York City wants to be your President. That’s good for the city (keeps him away for long stretches of time), and probably good for the current occupant of the White House too. Then, our good pal and co-podcaster Andrew Klavan joins to discuss his recent adventure at Stanford University... Source

May 17, 20191 hr 25 minEp. 448

Don't Self-Impeach — You'll Go Blind

This week on America’s most beloved political podcast, we get deep in the weeds on impeachment: can it happen, how would it work, and the politics surrounding it. But first, we travel to Venezuela where our intrepid correspondent Annika Rothstein, who tells a harrowing story that we won’t spoil here (yes, we know the audio on her segment was sub-par — socialists run lousy telecommunications... Source

May 10, 20191 hr 6 minEp. 447

Hello, Larry

Most Ricochet Podcasts follow a longstanding format: A little chat with the hosts, a couple of guests, some closing thoughts, a tune, and we’re out. But when you’ve got our old friend and current White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow on the podcast just hours after some very strong economic news, well, you throw out your format and let Larry drive the bus. We talk to him about the... Source

May 03, 20191 hr 1 minEp. 446

It’s Still A Damn Free Country

Every so often, we dispense with the guests and just let the hosts riff on whatever comes to their minds. That’s what we did for this week’s show, as Peter, Rob, and James jam about Joe Biden entering the race, the politics of impeachment, the new found popularity of socialism, including Medicare For All and cancelling student loans (in certain sectors of the culture), and finally, Rob’s (somewhat... Source...

Apr 26, 20191 hr 16 minEp. 445

What Is Truth?

What time is it? Why it’s Mueller time, of course. With the release of the report, we go full Mueller on this week’s show as we enlist Law Talk’s John Yoo to help us with the legal angle, and Byron York (he’s got a podcast too) to guide us through the political ramifications. Also, the fire at Notre Dame and a mediation (really!) on Good Friday. Music from this week’s show: Somebody Lied by Ricky... Source

Apr 19, 20191 hr 14 minEp. 444

Event Horizon

This week on America’s Most Trustworthy Podcast®, we talk about the meaning of the word “spying” and try to determine exactly what the definition is. Then, a bracing and brilliant discussion on reparations with the great Shelby Steele, who unlike most candidates for President, actually knows something about it. Then, our long time amigo Arthur Brooks calls in to talk about his new book... Source

Apr 12, 20191 hr 14 minEp. 443

You Can't Touch This

This week, the audacity of grope — can Uncle Joe survive the woke warriors? We (along with Bethany Mandel who sits in for Peter) ponder that question with our guest, Commentary’s Christine Rosen. Also, have the Democrats gotten too far out over their skis with the Mueller Report? Survey says…YES. And what the heck is going on across the pond with Brexit? We call on Quillette’s Toby Young to... Source

Apr 05, 20191 hr 10 minEp. 442

Sweet Sowell Music

We’re a tad late in publishing this week’s show, but we think it’s worth it: we’ve got Jon Gabriel sitting in for Rob Long, the great Thomas Sowell in the first segment to discuss the reissue of his classic book Discrimination and Disparities as well as the rise of socialism, reparations, and more. Next up, the also great Andrew C. McCarthy, who stops by to discuss his famous recipe for banana... Source

Mar 30, 20191 hr 10 minEp. 441
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