Need To Know with Mona Charen and Jay Nordlinger

National Review's Mona Charen and Jay Nordlinger discuss the news of the week.

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National Review's Jay Nordlinger and Mona Charen -- sometimes just the two of them, sometimes with guests -- explain what's wrong with the world (usually liberals) and how to fix it. 

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May 17, 2013

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This week, Jay (on location in Oslo, Norway) and Mona welcome the WSJ's Best of The Web columnist James Taranto. He discusses the IRS and the Associated Press scandals and gives us a tour of even more controversies currently flying under the media radar. James also explains why our current Alinsky-style of government doesn't work, nor does the media circling the wagons for the administration. Also, Mona gets audited (!), current events are making Jay more comfortable with Ayn Rand, Jewish charities appear to also be getting unfairly targeted, an in-depth discussion of Benghazi, and Jay gives us a live report from the Oslo Freedom Forum. 

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May 10, 2013
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This week on Need To Know, Mona Charen and Jay Nordlinger discuss the media and Benghazi; guns and healthcare; Obama’s defamation of conservatives; South Carolina’s charming Democratic leader; Stephen Hawking and the boycott of Israel; and much, much more.

Get more Mona and Jay -- subscribe to Need To Know here. 

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May 3, 2013
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This week on Need To Know, a familiar voice -- Ricochet's own Rob Long -- stops by. They discuss the ever stranger Hollywood/DC nexus, how ill-equipped the Obama administration is to do the basics of the job, and how big a factor race plays in the perception of how he is judged. Then, Rob makes the case that Republicans are too small, too pure, and stand for too much (not to worry, Mona and Jay push back), and finally ... the best-looking women Rob has ever seen. 

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April 26, 2013
Mona & Jay & Sequester Trigger

This week on Need To Know, Jay is on the scene in Texas at the Bush Library dedication with an inside look at the praise and the politics occurring there. Then, the coming reckoning on entitlements, ObamaCare and abortion, the continuing curious case of John Kerry, sequestration is not a walk in the park (or a swim), and Jay pays tribute to the conductor Sir Colin Davis.

Happy trails, EJHill. 

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April 20, 2013
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This week on Need To Know, Mona Charen and Jay Nordlinger welcome the great Victor Davis Hanson. They discuss

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the events in Boston, how the left has politicized it (and similar events in the past), and the impact on the culture at large going forward.

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April 13, 2013
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This week, Mona and Jay take a look at Kathy Boudin, the former Weather Underground terrorist and now an idolized (by the left) professor at Columbia and NYU and her relationship to Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn. Also, a "Need To Know" shout out to Cuban dissident/blogger Yoani Sánchez, a plea for for a wealthy Republican to buy the Washington Post, the outrageous lack of news coverage of the Kermit Gosnell trial, a tip of the hat to Margaret Thatcher, Rand Paul lights up the left wing blogosphere, and Jay make s the case for missile defense in light of new threats from North Korea.

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April 1, 2013
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They’ve talked about it for several weeks, and they’ve finally done it: Mona and Jay have made a music podcast. They take you on a musical tour, starting with Thomas Tallis, looking in on Mozart and Beethoven, visiting Verdi and Wagner, whooping it up with Gershwin, and ending with two composers of today. You get some Renaissance music, some Baroque, some Classical, some Romantic, a dose of French Impressionism, Schoenberg’s “air of different planets,” and so on. This is a sampler. Mona and Jay have some conversation, but mainly they give you music: less talk, more rock. Enjoy.

Note: We (meaning Blue Yeti, not Mona and Jay) struggled with some audio issues during the recording and post-production of this episode. We thought about scrapping the whole thing, but decided to put it out even though it's below our standards. We apologize in advance and promise to do better next time. 

Update: The playlist for this show may be viewed and downloaded here. 

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link is here.

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March 23, 2013
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This week on Need To Know,  Mona Charen and Jay Nordlinger fly solo but there's still plenty to talk about: Obama in Israel, looking back at Iraq, Star Wars (the weapons system, not the movie), Jay speaks French, consultants aren't the bad guys, Sarah v. Karl, navel gazing Republicans, and are Jay and Mona the Republican ideal?

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link is here.

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March 16, 2013
Three Hour Tour

This week on Need To Know, Abigail Thernstrom, Vice-chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and Adjunct Scholar at AEI joins for a fascinating discussion on race, politics, and the voting rights act. Then, Jay and Mona on the death of a Cambodian mass murderer, White House tour guides have been sequestered, diversity in the Obama cabinet, the left's justification for hating Israel, and Jay gives i to peer pressure and agrees to do a podcast with Mona of highlighting favorite classical pieces. Huzzah!

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link is here.

On your right, that's EJHill.

Sign up today for Hillsdale College's new FREE online American Heritage course. Go to Ricochet.com/Hillsdale

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March 8, 2013
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This week on Need To Know, we've got red shoes on the ground as NBC's George Weigel checks in from Rome to discuss the Conclave and the process to choose a new Pope. Then, Mona pummels those who don't share her love of Hummel, the death of a tyrant (Mona's must-read column on Chavez is here) and the ideals of the left that won't die, the sequester fight, drones and the filibuster, and the surprising new Miss Israel. 

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link is here.

Sign up today for Hillsdale College's new FREE online American Heritage course. Go to Ricochet.com/Hillsdale

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February 28, 2013
P&P

This week on Need To Know, more people watching with Jay and Mona. Today's hit parade includes John Kerry, Chuck Hagel, Joe Biden, Jane Austen, Chris Christie, Chopin, Bill Buckley, Al Sharpton, and Johann Nepomuk Hummel.

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link is here.

EJHill is our Darcy. 

Sign up today for Hillsdale College's new FREE online American Heritage course. Go to Ricochet.com/Hillsdale

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February 22, 2013
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This week on Need To Know, Mona and Jay welcome National Affairs editor Yuval Levin for a bracing discussion on
Republican renewal and how to get it, health care reform and the ramifications for both the right and left and a possible trap for the Democrat's, and a look at where Republicans have opportunities to make gains in the future. For background, read Yuval's Republican Renewal post on The Corner.

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link is here.

Sign up today for Hillsdale College's new FREE online American Heritage course. Go to Ricochet.com/Hillsdale

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February 15, 2013
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This week on Need To Know: full SOTU coverage, Mona's unlikely pen-pal, minimum wage and McJobs, horrors! -- we're losing to China on solar energy, universal pre-school, thoughts on Rubio, and meet Jay's new hero -- Elton John.

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February 8, 2013
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This week on Need To Know, Jay and Mona talk to author, columnist, and AEI scholar Christina Hoff 

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Sommers, who discusses her latest piece The Boys At The Back. It's a provocative and important conversation for anyone that has children or cares about them (that pretty much covers everyone, right?). 

Thanks to Ricochet member Franco for choosing this week's closing song, Soliloquy (from Carousel) by Frank Sinatra. 

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link is here

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February 2, 2013
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This week, a double shot of Need To Know with Charen and Nordlinger. Today, Jay and Mona welcome National Review editor Rich Lowry to discuss immigration and the rift on the right over this issue. Then, Jay and Mona remember Mayor Ed Koch, discuss women in combat, wince over the idea of John Kerry, Secretary of State,  marvel at Al Gore's hubris, and are awed at the graciousness of George W. Bush. 

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January 30, 2013
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This week on Need To Know, a special edition recorded at last weekend's National Review Institute Summit. Mona and Jay welcome Mark Steyn (aka "The Big Kahuna"), author Amity Schlaes (her new book is the must read bio Coolidge) and Ben Parker (aka Mona's son). You've probably never met a teenager quite like Ben before. 

Note: apologies for the less than stellar audio quality on this show. It was hotel supplied audio equipment. Lesson learned. 

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January 18, 2013
KinderProp

This week on Need To Know, the NYT blows the lid off of winter weather around the world, controlling guns Obama style, children as props, Bill Clinton is Hollywood icon, our weird stance on Israel and the U.S.'s waning influence in the world, Panetta and the Pope, and the secrets, behind Sabre Dance, the Need To Know theme song. 

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link is here.

The mighty pen of EJHill has struck again.

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January 12, 2013
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Hoover economist and Econtalk Podcast host Russ Roberts joins Mona and Jay to discuss the trillion dollar coin, what Milton would do, the great depression vs. our great recession and whether or not a WWII type spending program would actually help the economy. Also, would should we break up the big banks? Then, Jay and Mona banter about demonizing the Tea Party, and the do the Republicans have a political death wish? 

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January 4, 2013
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This week on Need To Know with Mona Charen and Jay Nordlinger: jumping off the fiscal cliff; leave John Boehner alone!, exactly what is the deal with Hillary Clinton?; Chris Christie's largesse; and Jay sticks up for Mitt. 

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December 14, 2012
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This week, on Need To Know, Bret Stephens (the foreign-affairs columnist of the Wall Street Journal and deputy editorial page editor) joins to discuss Susan Rice's withdrawal from consideration for Secretary of State. Then, a discussion of the left's views and behavior on the issue of human rights (spoiler: it's not what the media wants you to believe) and the stranger-than-fiction role that Jesse Jackson played in Susan Rice's handling of the crisis in Sierra Leone. Bret reveals his picks for the two greatest novels of the 20th century, the twisted priorities of Peter Arnett, and people who oppose freedom. Also, discussion of John Kerry--Secretary of State, Sean Penn's BFF Hugo Chavez, and insufficient grief. Finally, a look at the state of Michigan and why smoking is a line the left will not let you cross.

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December 6, 2012
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This week, Jay and Mona welcome The Weekly Standard's Jonathan V. Last to discuss his latest piece "A Nation of Singles". They discuss the most politically potent demographic (Jonathan makes the case that it is not Hispanics) and what the GOP can do to appeal to them. Also, the consequences of falling fertility rates, the fallacy of the Middle Class, what factors determine who will vote Republican, marriage versus Julia, and Mona makes the case for children. 

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November 30, 2012
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This week on Need To Know, The Washington Post's (and Left Coast/Right Coast Podcast co-host) Jennifer Rubin joins Jay and Mona to discuss the the fiscal cliff negotiations, how the Republican party should unite to make the case tot he American people, and a perhaps bleak prediction for the future.

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Cheer up!

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November 23, 2012
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This week on Need To Know, National Review's Mona Charen and and Jay Nordlinger mull the election results, re-cap the NR Cruise, and give some tough love to the Republican party. For example, Would Ronald Reagan be elected governor in California today? Jay thinks not -- tell us what you think in the comments (paging Peter Robinson...). Also, Mona gives a the rundown of her personally prepared Thanksgiving feast. We gained weight just listening to it. 

Don't miss out: subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct linkers, click here.

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November 9, 2012
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This week on Need To Know, Jay and Mona lament the election results, bat around some of the data we've gleaned from the exit polls, kick around what Romney might have done better, then get more positive by discussing the way forward, laying out their hopes for the future. Cheers!

Don't miss out: subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link fans, click here.

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November 1, 2012
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This week on Need To Know, Hurricane Sandy updates from both Mona and Jay, the political implications of the storm, one last look at the election, and what it's like to vote Republican in blue Manhattan.

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link fans, click here.

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October 24, 2012
Need to Stach

This week, National Review's Mona Charen and Jay Nordlinger welcome former Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton for a fascinating discussion on Mitt Romney's foreign policy positions. Also, Mona and Jay give their opinion on the last debate, provide a look ahead to the final weeks of the campaign, and wind up with a stinging point-by-point rebuke to the Obama foreign policy. Not to be missed!

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link fans, click here.

Thanks to EJHill for Bolton-izing Mona and Jay.

Today's show is brought to you by Hillsdale College's Online Course Constitution 201. It's online, it's free, and it's on the threat of the progressive movement, and what constitutional conservatives must do to restore liberty and limited government. Go to Hillsdale.edu, then click on the "Constitution 201" banner on the right side of the page to sign up.

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October 20, 2012
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This week on Need To Know, Mona Charen and Jay Nordlinger recap this week's Presidential debate and look forward the next and last one, Jay examines the stereotypes of the two political parties, opinionated journalists, sanctions and Iran, Jay's hope for the election, and Mona explains why the Russians aren't our amigos.

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link comrades, click here.

Today's show is brought to you by Hillsdale College's Online Course Constitution 201. It's online, it's free, and it's on the threat of the progressive movement, and what constitutional conservatives must do to restore liberty and limited government. Go to Hillsdale.edu, then click on the "Constitution 201" banner on the right side of the page to sign up.

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October 12, 2012
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The title refers to a provocative question Jay Nordlinger would like to ask the President, and he and co-host Mona Charen give their answers. Other topics covered this week: some pre-VP debate analysis (this show was recorded before the VP debate), the best journalist working today, what political parties Obama would be a member of around the world, Big Bird as a political football, is the Obama administration consciously lying about Libya, the truth about Alan Keyes, what "new economic patriotism" really means, and some final thoughts on l'affaire Big Bird. 

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link aficionados, click here.

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October 5, 2012
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This week on Need To Know, Mona and Jay give their reviews of the Presidential debate, what Mitt's smashing performance means, a boots-on-the-ground report from the battle state of Virginia, the curious changing demographics of the Jewish vote, the continuing deception over the attacks in Libya, and Mona reveals her heretofore secret hobby.

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Direct link heads click here. 

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September 29, 2012
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This week on Need to Know, Mona Charen and Jay Nordlinger welcome author Harry Stein to talk about his new book The Idiot Vote. They discuss the polls, the media, and the unsophisticated electorate.

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Need a direct link? Click here. You know you want to. 

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September 22, 2012
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This week, Mona Charen and Jay Nordlinger discuss Mona's new career as a conservative tutor, the enduring (and misleading) myth of Ché Guevara, the indifference of the left when it comes to human rights, is criticism of the Romney campaign from the right harming the campaign, and a meditation on, yes, yes guess it, Maureen Dowd.

Subscribe to this podcast via iTunes or other podcast software here. Need a direct link? We've got you covered.

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September 21, 2012

We're delighted to announce the launch of a new Ricochet podcast. Jay Nordlinger and I -- sometimes just the two of us, sometimes with guests -- will explain what's wrong with the world (usually liberals) and how to fix it. Join us!

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