Great show today . It’s a tough topic and you dealt with it gracefully .. I’m 70 now so I have a lot of clarity about my interactions with changing sexual mores and my own aspirations in the world. Original Sin. As a Catholic I love it. Crooked timber indeed. I was selfish and greedy in my sexual pursuits because I felt hurt and lost and had an unhealthy need to win and be recognized as having power. The 80 20 rule. People tend to want the most attractive men and women when they are not the most attractive people themselves. A lot of the alienation canes from people being greedy and selfish and not having gratitude for the people that do like them . They always want more. In the past hundred years I think we are the only people that have been subject to relentless sex based marketing of advertising We think that is what winning is … status is .. It does seem like beauty standards are becoming broader .. maybe narrow casting will enable individuals to be seen because of the quality of their work and the content of their character. There are hundreds of interesting podcasts that would never have been seen in the old media environment .. Lately I have been seeing the legacy media as a brain dead soul destroying oligopoly .. how can I dig out from under their power .. Sidebar .. as a democrat that would like to win elections I find the focus on on poor scmuck in El Salvador very destructive to my party .. There are a hundred policy changes that thoughtful democrats could advocate to deal with 20 million illegal migrants … how could they possibly break through .. the intra party incentives are all too leftist and the media is useless ..

I don’t agree with Jonah on many things — but he and his guests always make me think. I appreciate that in this media environment more than anything.

Jonah, thank you so much for eloquently espousing beliefs with which I more often than not agree. A real breath of fresh air in this all or nothing environment in which we live. I was beginning to believe that sanity was rare, but then I found this podcast.

Thank you so much for having David Bahnsen on your show. What an exceptional speaker. Not only broke down complicated economic ideas into simple, clearly understood facts ( the weak dollar is not the problem, but a symptom of the problem) but masterfully presented both sides of controversial arguments. Your best guests are the ones that concede points that go against their argument, but then present an effective defense as to why their argument should win. David was no exception. In fact, I enjoyed his presentation, his clarity, his vast knowledge, and his fairness so much that I purchased his book just now on Amazon through your link. Please have him back frequently to explain economic issues And keep up the good work. Love what you guys are doing at the Dispatch.

Jonah is the voice inside my head, only smarter and better read. Thank you for giving me something to nod along in agreement to as a lifelong conservative who’s become despondent over the state of the GOP. Don’t know where to turn for sane, logical, and consistent conservative commentary? Right here! Thank you Jonah Goldberg.

Waging a war against nonexistent -radical- Marxists.

STOP. This is not a good analogy for anything. It’s stupid and not true. A hundred billion billion monkeys would never come up with a book of any kind. They are monkeys. Shakespeare is not a monkey. You sound like an idiot every time you say anything about monkeys and typewriters.

Carter and Reagan began use of capital in other countries to both elevate the poor there and provide cheaper goods here. Has nothing to do with elites now. Tucker and lutnick are mercantilists

And yet you couldn’t bring yourself to advocate for her…

I have to say I had great respect for you, but you’ve turned into the biggest a ss clown ever!! your hatred for trump has change who you were for the worse!! I can’t even stand to look at your fat fockin a ss!!!

All this talk of what generation one is in is pointless, just a way of creating classes where none exist. It’s a Marxist thing, create a distinction and divide people. I heard Jonah say he hated boomers, as if we had any choice when we were born.

Easy to listen to and I can understand what is being said. I like that its not just about bashing trump this is good, when thats all that is done from the media it can distract from the real issues. Although I do think trump is failed salesman turned game show host who acts like a 12 year old.

Happy birthday Jonah! Love this podcast!

I often tell myself I will listen to something else because of how much he rambles, but then he rambles something amazing and I keep coming back. Jonah is funny, fair and very very thoughtful. Sort of if you combined William Buckley and Hunter as Thompson

I’ve read and listened to Jonah for many many years and agree with nearly everything he says or writes. And to top it off, he’s funny as heck!!! He is a true conservative of the Wm F Buckley stripe, and he speaks the truth in ways I wish I’d thought of. If you’re a real conservative who longs for the truth in this present age of the fake conservative fiction and lies, you’ll want to listen to Jonah’s podcast. It will warm your heart.

Stopped listing to this rant

This is my "listen first" podcast. Especially his guest episodes. I like Sarah, but her intro to the latest episode any a chill down my spine. The exact feeling i don't want when listening in.

Fascinating eggheadery, but missing the bigger picture. Bill Galston is as fairminded a left of center voice as you can name, these days. The fact that 50 years ago, when the congress made a law called “the blah, blah, non- impoundment act”, the national debt stood at $2 trillion. After two generations of hand wringing from both parties about balancing the budget, the national debt is $36 trillion and growing by $2 trillion a year. If you ask me, we’re burning through borrowed cash and it’s got to stop!

Long time listener, never written a review before, for any podcast. The Kori Schake episode was FANTASTIC! Please have her back!

Fine with the transgender ban in sports, but Lia Thomas last swam in 2022 I believe. You said trans women are winning everything - what championships have they won since? (Hint: none)

Jonah thinks people enjoy his boring friends. They aren’t fan favorites. They’re lazy choices for guests. Get outside your comfort zone once in a while.

I love this show and listen to most episodes. Balanced and thoughtful. Jonah isn’t committed to one narrative but presents a contemplative approach to the biggest issues of the day. The philosophical approach is appreciated as well. Wouldn’t mind not hearing the weird orgasm intro.

Never heard of this guy but he’s pretty dumb.

After listening to Jonah rant and rave about his reasoning why he dislikes trump, I started laughing. He seems so bewildered that He’s cheap and unethical in his development business. Has he never met a real estate developer before? That is the business model. Ethics, morality, and fairness in business, please be realistic. There has never been one that is as Jonah described, and if he knows one, they hire somebody to be a SOB. Other than Jonah’s naivety, I really like his podcast. I don’t agree with about 60% of his arguments, but his view is invaluable

I couldn’t agree with Jonah more. John Podhoretz & his merry Commentary gang seem downright cheerful and even giddy at the Trump win. They should know better.

The last couple episodes with Podhoretz and Michael C. Moynihan were excellent.

We LOVE Door County. Been there dozens and dozens of times. But it’s NOT Northern Wisconsin. I chuckle every time I hear you say that!! Keep up the great work!!

Did he get deported?

Sure the topics circle around classic liberal themes, but the epicenter is Bigfoot Erotica and how evil Woodrow Wilson was.

Jonah, your friend is a bit in front of his skis, don’t you think? It’s a bit rich to hear this self-identified atheist tell me I need to be a better Christian, a “real” one, “for the sake of the country.” The Christian faith contains no theology regarding political behavior? What? I’m not a “white evangelical,” I’m a “white Roman Catholic”—whatever that means in terms of Mr Rauch’s “research.” Still, I know evangelicals, white and otherwise, and they and I tend to agree that Christian discipleship means the same thing in every sphere of life, including civic engagement. Christians who vote Republican likely do so because conservative values seem to be more in line with Christian values—not because they are being “bad Christians!” Both parties are a bad fit, and the Christians I know feel politically homeless and are simply doing the best they can when voting. So this guy’s thesis is what exactly? He’s got the right idea in some respects (Christian faith and discipleship supports personal and civic thriving, stop the presses!) but his priors prevent him from seeing his subject with humility or clarity.

Enough of the “is Trump Hitler” analysis. I can’t take anymore of it. I’m not a fan of Trump. I was a fan of Jonah. I think people come to this podcast for insight on politics writ large - not just which fascist Trump is most like. (P.S. he’s more like PT Barnum than Peron.) Please, Jonah, knock it off with them negative waves. Why don’t you say something righteous and hopeful for a change.

I never miss an episode, I owe my newfound intellectual and conversational brilliance to this podcast, and to the several others linked by host/participant or ideological sympathy.

Great show. Miss the old artwork.

Jonah, I have been a huge supporter of yours over the years and will continue to be. You are wise, insightful, and decent. This is not a prelude of niceties before a parting of the ways I promise. I can’t see myself ever leaving you. However, you have made this whole “flagship” thing weird and uncomfortable. It was just good clean fun that you amped up and made it not that. I say this in love…tone it down and let it go!

Yes, Kevin, you do talk too much. Maybe trying to impress frank? Frank you are wonderful. And patient. And interesting. And you completely won me over with the proclamation that everyone needs a dog in their life. As for empathy vs sympathy - my take is sympathy is felt when grandma dies. True and honest empathy makes you a better human.

JG is an amazing interviewer and I generally love the topics. I would love to have more discussion about economics and policy and less discussion of politics. I have listened to your podcast from the beginning and I am very grateful for the insights you provide. Thank you!

I miss the old art work

Good discussion. J & S talking about “the base” Republicans are describing how Hugh Hewitt describes himself (kinda). He, & his huge audience, will vote for the nominee no matter who it is…Party Man is a high compliment to these people.

The transgender-inmate-paid-for-surgery was a policy of the Trump administration, and detractors are pinning that on Harris because she had discussion about it once. You need to clean this misinformation up. Now.

I keep waiting for Jonah to follow his logic about Trump-skeptical “lesser of two evils” conservatives being the new Republican base through to its necessary conclusion, which is that David French, Steve Hayes, Liz Cheney and the Bulwark crowd are the new Democratic base. Too long breathing the rarefied air of CNN and NBC green rooms has certainly harmed the analysis of the once-distinguished Dispatch. Sad.

Thanks for the Rosen ep!

Loved the C Rosen and E Johnson duo- a new podcast please asap

I love Jonah but this idea he holds that he is in the middle and not on a team is a great example of how difficult self examination can be. 1) Jonah knows that one of two people is going to win this election. 2) He openly states that Trump would be worse for the country. 3) He concludes that he won’t endorse either. How do you not see your own cowardice in this conclusion? You see it so clearly with the ‘normie’ republicans, but not yourself. Just like Pilate who would neither condemn nor release Jesus—when he knew which was more right—you conclude ‘I wash my hands of this.’ It’s just another kind of evil, the indifference of good men. You honor your parents—not by giving your longstanding team a pass—but by making a conclusion in accordance with your findings.

You are doing the same thing you claim JD Vance is doing. Understanding that the “conservative” system undergirds your freedom to call others who essentially believe (conservative principles) what you do, “dishonorable liars”. You are leaving others to do the fighting. Unfortunately Jonah now mostly sees Yahoos and bad actors in people that generally believe what he has always believed. They just can’t explain their principles as eloquently. A little tiresome. Fortunately he still sees the other side’s beliefs as a little worse. But who really knows for how long. Working at CNN is having an effect. Calling people “garbage” doesn’t help. It took a lady getting punched in the face and the UN to act moronically for Jonah to work his way back to some hard conservative positions, but glad to hear it anyway Jonah lately uses his genius to split the difference rather than make a difference. I guess I would be one who he claims “catastrophizes” everything. I guess it’s fine to be outraged and prosecute a former president for his actions, but don’t be surprised when presidents that don’t control border, unilaterally try to forgive debt etc. suffer similar trials.. uncharted territory these days. Trump on blast in this one but as the public, in record numbers, retreat into gated communities, private schools (mainly for safety)and twitter enclaves, I wish Jonah would use his genius to truly battle the cultural trends. He seems forced by his business model to call the, admittedly ridiculous , extreme right blog posts “profoundly stupid” while ignoring all of absurd stuff going on around him. But have been with him since the ‘90s so will always check in with what he has to say. Why you leave out feckless (maybe corrupt) DAs, porous/dangerous borders, runaway spending, crime, public schools, etc etc in the equation of the “rube” Fox viewer is baffling to me. Maybe Fox hasn’t changed that much since 2015, but you have. I believe Susan Rosen was first to use term “crushing morosity” in a podcast which was hilarious. Need to give her a nod for it. The word “performative” is so weak sauce. (When you don’t want to agree with someone who actually voices a hardline conservative policy. ). It’s not as smart sounding as Jonah and his partner thinks it sounds. Jonah reclaims his 5 on this one. Really good conversation. Previous podcast-

Its so unfortunate that smart people get lost in the hatred of people. I can’t bring myself to resubscribe to the Dispatch with so many people sitting on their perch looking down on the “normies”. If you want Republican politicians to be pure and completely honest you should expect the same of the Democrats. And if this forces you not to be able to vote for republicans then you shouldn’t be voting for Democrats. News Flash: ALL POLITICIANS LIE!!

That you do the work to maintain your intellectual integrity in this environment is a breath of fresh air. I’ve always respected you, but I think what you’ve done to call out the insanity around us is particularly important- I truly mean that listening to you, and your colleagues at the dispatch, has been a really important part of my life for the last few years. So thank you.

Jonah, always thoughtful, always interesting.

Really appreciate Jonah, his curiosity, and the team he has assembled.

Sam Harris spoke about how wonderful it would be without religion but spoke in religious terms like sin, love fellow man etc. it was off-putting. He spoke in utopian terms about a society without religion where everyone thought rationally. That’s nice except we’re not rational people, we’re emotional with deeply flawed nature that is only constrained because of religion. Jonah didn’t push back harder on this.

What an interesting interview of Jonah…and not by someone at The Dispatch. No slight at all to The Dispatch but Jonathan Rauch brought different questions to the interview than a Dispatch voice would have. I was most interested in the personal political history the interview uncovered, and the interview had me asking myself when I formed my opinion of Trump and who or what influenced me to it. I also had to seriously ask myself if I have been tempted to change my mind in the last 8 years. Excellent questions by Jonathan!