Episodes

Jonah Goldberg is joined by American Enterprise Institute fellow and author Michael Rosen to discuss his new book, Silicon and Clay: What Ancient Jewish Wisdom Can Teach Us About AI. Jonah and Michael cover the difference between lunch bucket AI degrowthers vs. Butlerian jihadist doomers before diving into the lore of the mystical figures of the golem and the dybbuk and what they can teach us about our approach to artificial intelligence. Show Notes: —Pre-order Like Silicon from Clay: What Anci...

Jonah Goldberg has words for the Trump administration signaling its willingness to betray Ukraine and turn allies into vassals all in the name of a faux-realist approach to geopolitics that feels more Corleone than Kissinger. Plus: an apology to Anthony Scaramucci, ruminations on the Eric Adams case, and the MAGA-induced pressure campaign within the conservative movement. Show Notes: —Order Honor Among Nations —Wednesday G-File: “Realism for a Condo Salesman” —Friday G-File: “Faded Glory, Grow...

Pippa and Zoë have chastised Jonah Goldberg for the recent lack of female voices on The Remnant, so Sarah Isgur has staged a Steinem-style takeover of the show alongside Caroline Criado-Perez to discuss one of Sarah’s favorite books, Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. Sarah and Caroline dig into the glaring gender bias in data science, econometrics, clinical research, and healthcare. Plus: a debate over the potential for a misandrist pendulum swing in the progressive era. S...

New York Times columnist Bret Stephens makes his Remnant debut, joining Jonah Goldberg for a discussion of the first month of the second Trump administration, the Chamberlain-esque negotiations for peace in Ukraine, and the infuriating instances of moral ignominy on college campuses. Show Notes: —Bret’s ‘Never Trump” piece in the New York Times —Jonah’s ‘Never Trump’ piece in National Review —“The Power of the Powerless,” Vaclav Havel The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media...

While Jonah Goldberg is usually riding solo on Ruminant episodes, today he is joined by his newly adopted island chicken, Rex. Jonah educates Rex about the relationship between the judicial and the executive branch, what constitutes autocracy, and the grounding of Critical Trump Theory. Plus: further ruminations on American sovereigntists and Pete Hegseth’s early actions as secretary of Defense. Show Notes: —Wednesday’s G-File —On the sovereigntists —John McCormack on Darren Beattie —Subscribe ...

Chris Stirewalt remains in control of The Remnant throne whilst Jonah vision quests, and has brought another excellent guest to enlighten ye loyal listeners: William Galston, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and Wall Street Journal columnist. The two discuss the health of the constitutional order, the hardheadedness of the Democratic Party, and how progressives can actually sway public opinion. Show Notes: —Galston for the Wall Street Journal: “Trump, USAID, and the Rule of Law” —John...

Jonah Goldberg has abandoned SS Remnant for greener pastures. Luckily, the inimitable Chris Stirewalt has taken the helm once again. Chris is joined by Kori Schake, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and foreign policy egghead extraordinaire to cover the artificial intelligence arms race, the China question, and Trump’s proposal for peace (?) in Ukraine.Plus: effective deterrence against Iran, an evaluation of Israel’s successes and struggles in Gaza, and potential military refor...

With the help of a Yuval Levin and a Silly Putty support system, Jonah Goldberg opens this Ruminant with a recommendation not to panic about the Trump administration quite yet. He does, however, bemoan the president’s fantasy about a U.S. sovereign wealth fund before wondering about what the next generation of Democratic leaders might look like. Show Notes: —Yuval Levin and Ezra Klein —Nick Catoggio on the DOGE hoax —Jonah and Katie Herzog on Mike Pesca's The Gist The Remnant is a production of...

Francis Fukuyama makes a triumphant return to The Remnant to discuss the current state of liberalism, the flaws with emerging sects of postliberalism, and the rapidly deteriorating expectations of normalcy for the second Trump administration. Plus: reactionary horseshoe theory, the new American oligarchy, and the risks of Trumpian expansionism. Show Notes: —Francis’ work on Substack —The Patrick Deneen article in question —Yascha Mounk and Francis Fukuyama talk Trump 2.0 The Remnant is a produ...

Alex Tabarrok, professor of economics at George Mason University, joins Jonah Goldberg to discuss the exceptional nature of American democratic capitalism and debate the merits of all sorts of borders. Later in the episode, Jonah gets a crash course in crypto and asks Alex about the future and ethics of AI and large language models. Show Notes: — Alex’s piece on Liberal Fascism and CurtisYarvin The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and ...

Jonah Goldberg has gone to drastic lengths to cure his latest illness, absconding to Belize to drink fresh coconut water and ponder his life choices in the rainforest. Ruminations from his hammock include Donald Trump’s irresponsible comments on the tragic DCA plane crash, the ongoing tariff debate, and the discourse surrounding the hierarchy of love. Show Notes: —Ross Douthat on The Remnant —Michael Moynihan on The Remnant The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company co...

New York Times columnist and best-selling author Ross Douthat joins The Remnant today to discuss his new book, Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious, and dive into some rank punditry. Ross and Jonah Goldberg talk tech execs in Washington, spiritual metaphysics, and what Emilia Perez says about the relationship between culture and politics.Later in the episode, Ross explains why religion—no matter what flavor—is necessary for a healthy individual and a thriving nation. Show Notes: —Pre-order...

Francis Dearnley, executive editor at The Telegraph and Remnant fan-favorite, stops by the show to discuss the struggles of U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the British perspective on Donald Trump’s second term and the rise of populism, and the desperate need for functional governance. Plus: targeted solicitor slander, the lunacy of London living, and an update on Ukraine. Show Notes: —Francis Dearnley on X —Ukraine: The Latest podcast The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital med...

Buckle up, there are tiny, crazy monkeys on tricycles riding around inside Jonah Goldberg’s brain, and the only way to let them out is an epic, mega Ruminant. You’re welcome, America. Jonah begins with a defense of his free spirit and recent snarkiness before he launches into a critique of Curtis Yarvin’s recent antics in the New York Times. He covers FDR’s stint in Silicon Valley, neo-reactionary historical revisionism, and other lines of sophomoric nonsense. In the realm of politics: the hypo...

Michael C. Moynihan, fellow podcaster extraordinaire and Lisan al-Gaib of the House Un-American Activities Committee, pays a visit to the Court of TheRemnant to defend Bill Buckley, discuss horseshoe theory as it relates to immigration, and critique cheap radicalism. Plus: the problems with post-liberalism, the slippery slope of foreign policy obsession, and a neocon apologia session. Show Notes: —The Fifth Column Podcast —Michael’s work for The Free Press —Brother Stirewalt on Henry Wallace —...

Jonah Goldberg has a bone to pick with John Podhoretz’s exuberance over the second Trump ascension. Once John has been adequately chastised, the pod couple covers Trump’s inauguration speech, discuss the new President’s slew of executive orders and foreign policy plans, and engage in some kvetching over Joe Biden’s final moves. Towards the end of the episode, John airs his grievances on the ceasefire deal in Israel and allows Jonah to play some Gen X pop culture bingo. Show Notes: — “The Anti-W...

Dialing in from the mystical land of Indiana, Jonah Goldberg ruminates upon Lord Acton’s parable of absolute power and abject corruption, the distinction between good manners and draconian DEI policies, the distinction between market signaling and sound business decisions, and the vice signaling dominating the right in anticipation of Trump’s ascension. Show Notes: —The Arms of Krupp —A 2002 vintage Goldberg from the cellar —Further rumination on Trumpian corruption The Remnant is a production ...

Dr. Hal Brands joins Jonah to discuss the future of global alliance blocs, China and Russia’s material interests, and how to cut a nuclear deal with Iran. Stay tuned for a reality check on the Greenland acquisition plan. Brands is a professor of global affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a senior fellow at AEI, and most recently author of The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern Century. Show Notes: —Purchase Brand’s book, The Eur...

Crisis in California

Sir Jonah Goldberg, the earl of The Dispatch, uses his teatime to discuss his preference for the Dutch masters, the Stranger Things play, and Henry VIII’s array of underwear models. Somehow, he ties it all back to personal pluralism, forestry management, the abject failures of democratic city governance, and Donald Trump's new imperial ambitions. Show Notes: —Cross & Country with Jonathan Rauch —The firefighter X discourse —Jonah’s appearance on The Charles C.W. Cooke Podcast —Catoggio on Green...

Jonah Goldberg had an insatiable hankering for beans on toast and has thus opted to abandon ye loyal listeners for an English vacation. To fill the Jonah-shaped vacuum, Sarah Isgur and Michael Warren of Dispatch fame have revived The Collisionto talk all things legal and presidential one last time. They cover the latest developments in Donald Trump’s New York criminal case and classified documents case before turning to the question of January 6 pardons. Say what you will about the president-el...

Brookings Institution senior fellow and best-selling author Jonathan Rauch has returned to The Remnant once more to subject his latest book to Jonah Goldberg’s barrage of inquiry. The book in question, Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy, seeks to remind Americans that liberalism cannot function without strong Christian institutions and argues that living the Christian doctrine could help fix our democracy. Jonah and Jonathan discuss new ways to protect American plurali...

After attending to the various and sundry, Jonah Goldberg explains why you should read George Orwell's Politics and the English Language, why the conflation between "the swamp" and "the deep state" irritates him so much, and the issue with saying "Trump is Hitler." Show Notes: —Jonah's debate with Charles Kesler —Liberal Fascism —Kevin Williamson on the Deep State and Vikings —Kevin Williamson on Jimmy Carter The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics...

On the first Remnant episode of 2025, Jonah Goldberg is joined by Chris Stirewalt to discuss the ethical implications of doing something “country style,” debate who made the biggest political mistake of 2024, and dive into the strategic value of “popularism.” Few are more qualified than Chris to kick off another year of punditry, eggheadery, rabbit holes, and rumination. Show Notes: —Jonah’s LA Times Column The Remnant is a production of The Dispatch, a digital media company covering politics, ...