Introducing “The Classicist” with Victor Davis Hanson

Troy Senik
Troy Senik
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It’s been a long time coming, but today we unveil the first episode of the Hoover Institution’s new weekly podcast with Victor Davis Hanson (moderated by yours truly), The Classicist. In this episode, Victor, just back from Europe, describes the continent’s struggles with immigration, comparing and contrasting them with those in the United States. Along the way, we discuss everything from the weakening of Western identity to whether it’s inevitable that prosperous societies will experience an erosion of national character. This series isn’t up yet on iTunes (it will be shortly), so you’ll have to listen to it below for now. And, as a special for our debut, I’ll post another bonus episode here tomorrow. Listen in and let us know what you think:

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  1. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas
    9:26 AM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    How timely, as I’m calling my reading list for the next three months “The summer of the Greeks”; basically, I’m finally getting  to the Greek stuff/about Greek stuff left over that I didn’t get in college … Hesiod, Euripides, etc. I did Homer, Sophocles, etc years ago, but always had a to-do list for the other Greek classics. I’m finally getting around to it. On that list? VDH’s Wars of the Ancient Greeks, from the Smithsonian History of Warfare series.

    Is Prof. Hanson going to discuss the classics, or is this podcast going to be more of a “Whatever is interesting VDH at the moment” kind of thing?

    And by the way; how about an RSS link for us non-iTunes podcast subscribers?

    • #1
  2. Troy Senik, Ed. Contributor
    Troy Senik, Ed.
    @TroySenik
    Post author
    9:27 AM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Douglas:Is Prof. Hanson going to discuss the classics, or is this podcast going to be more of a “Whatever is interesting VDH at the moment” kind of thing?

    The latter…but that will almost certainly be inclusive of the former.

    • #2
  3. user_82762 Thatcher
    user_82762
    @JamesGawron
    9:33 AM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Troy,

    Anne Coulter has assumed the role of out spoken provocateur on immigration. VDH gives us the intellectual take. Same story for anyone who isn’t so wrapped up in left wing ideology that they can’t tell their elbow from their [CoC].

    I like VDH’s use of the experience of those who are being immigrated on top of. His description of ordinary citizens in Italian towns with the African-Muslim homeless is revealing. Also, his description of middle class Latinos reacting to ERs filled with illegals with respiratory infections. The EU overlords disconnected as much as the Obama administration from the reality.

    Excellent segment and I look forward to more of VDH. Thanks Troy.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #3
  4. Johnny Dubya Inactive
    Johnny Dubya
    @JohnnyDubya
    9:36 AM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    This is exciting, indeed.  VDH is a national treasure – right up there with Thomas Sowell.

    • #4
  5. Marion Evans Inactive
    Marion Evans
    @MarionEvans
    10:13 AM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    The great irony is going to be when Mexicans stop coming to this country because their economy takes off. It is happening already. Look at this chart and the decline since 2000. Then who is going to paint our houses and cut our grass at reduced wages so inflation can stay low and the stock market can boom?  Be careful what you wish for. Europe’s problem is entirely different and will get worse as African populations are set to double. http://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2015/05/05/more-immigrants-coming-from-china-india-now-than-mexico/

    Immigration-Trend

    • #5
  6. Marion Evans Inactive
    Marion Evans
    @MarionEvans
    10:15 AM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Also this 2012 report from Pew on Mexico to US immigration:

    “The largest wave of immigration in history from a single country to the United States has come to a standstill.”

    http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/04/23/net-migration-from-mexico-falls-to-zero-and-perhaps-less/

    • #6
  7. user_536506 Member
    user_536506
    @ScottWilmot
    10:33 AM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Fantastic!

    What did I win? :)

    • #7
  8. user_30416 Inactive
    user_30416
    @LeslieWatkins
    12:10 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Extremely psyched about this podcast! Hope VDH will be willing to take questions from us sometime. Looking forward to next week!

    • #8
  9. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera
    1:25 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Excellent post, Troy-

    • #9
  10. Troy Senik, Ed. Contributor
    Troy Senik, Ed.
    @TroySenik
    Post author
    1:31 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Titus Techera:Excellent post, Troy-

    How is it that the originators of this joke are now unclear on how it works?

    • #10
  11. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera
    1:49 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Troy Senik, Ed.:

    Titus Techera:Excellent post, Troy-

    How is it that the originators of this joke are now unclear on how it works?

    Mr. Senik, I am trying to undo it-

    • #11
  12. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera
    1:53 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Or, no, I think this may just be the next step in the dialectic. I’m somewhat uncertain, sorry to say-

    • #12
  13. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant
    2:29 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Troy Senik, Ed.:

    Titus Techera:Excellent post, Troy-

    How is it that the originators of this joke are now unclear on how it works?

    I suspect the joke has gone meta.

    • #13
  14. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera
    2:31 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Arahant:

    Troy Senik, Ed.:

    Titus Techera:Excellent post, Troy-

    How is it that the originators of this joke are now unclear on how it works?

    I suspect the joke has gone meta.

    Try para-

    • #14
  15. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant
    2:51 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Titus Techera:

    Arahant:

    Troy Senik, Ed.:

    Titus Techera:Excellent post, Troy-

    How is it that the originators of this joke are now unclear on how it works?

    I suspect the joke has gone meta.

    Try para-

    Or maybe trans…

    • #15
  16. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera
    2:55 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Arahant:

    Titus Techera:

    Arahant:

    Troy Senik, Ed.:

    Titus Techera:Excellent post, Troy-

    How is it that the originators of this joke are now unclear on how it works?

    I suspect the joke has gone meta.

    Try para-

    Or maybe trans…

    Trigger-warning. Try ortho- instead, catman-

    • #16
  17. user_27438 Inactive
    user_27438
    @ForrestCox
    3:02 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    THIS!!!

    • #17
  18. user_348483 Coolidge
    user_348483
    @EHerring
    5:24 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    What a great addition.  Who needs radio if they have ricochet?

    • #18
  19. Ricochet Member
    Ricochet
    @ArizonaPatriot
    6:26 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Terrific.  Dr. Hansen was on my Ricochet wish list.  Thanks to everyone involved for making this podcast a reality.

    • #19
  20. user_75648 Thatcher
    user_75648
    @JohnHendrix
    9:17 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    Thank you to Troy and the other Ricochet editors for bringing us yet another high-value podcast.

    Bonus: A Classical Greek historian is interviewed by a guy named “Troy”.

    • #20
  21. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera
    10:31 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 17, 2015

    John Hendrix:Thank you to Troy and the other Ricochet editors for bringing us yet another high-value podcast.

    Bonus: A Classical Greek historian is interviewed by a guy named “Troy”.

    Every podcast ends in fire!

    • #21
  22. captainpower Member
    captainpower
    @captainpower
    5:39 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 18, 2015

    link to rss feed please

    • #22
  23. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant
    6:01 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 18, 2015

    I was hoping it would be longer. Have to wait for the next.

    • #23
  24. Ricochet Member
    Ricochet
    @IWalton
    8:56 AM PDT ⋅ Jun 20, 2015

    Has anyone figured out how many people read and listen to Ricochet, Hoover, Econ talk et al.  Don’t tell me if it’s a low number.

    • #24
  25. captainpower Member
    captainpower
    @captainpower
    9:48 AM PDT ⋅ Jun 20, 2015

    John Penfold:Has anyone figured out how many people read and listen to Ricochet, Hoover, Econ talk et al. Don’t tell me if it’s a low number.

    Ricochet pleas for membership say that if a small percentage (10%?) of the Flagship Podcast downloads translated into members they would be set.

    So if they are pushing for 10,000 members then that’s 100,000 downloads.

    The Adam Carolla show (Guinness book of records holder for “Most Downloaded Podcast“) gets 200,000+ DAILY downloads (he does a daily show).

    Russ Roberts at Econtalk has said his reach is much greater through the podcast than through his professorship, but I don’t remember any numbers.

    But yeah, I’m pretty curious too.

    • #25
  26. Titus Techera Contributor
    Titus Techera
    @TitusTechera
    9:49 AM PDT ⋅ Jun 20, 2015

    captainpower:

    John Penfold:Has anyone figured out how many people read and listen to Ricochet, Hoover, Econ talk et al. Don’t tell me if it’s a low number.

    Ricochet please for membership say that if a small percentage (10%?) of the Flagship Podcast downloads translated into members they would be set.

    So if they are pushing for 10,000 members then that’s 100,000 downloads.

    The Adam Carolla show gets 200,000+ DAILY downloads (he does a daily show).

    Russ Roberts at Econtalk has said his reach is much greater through the podcast than through his professorship, but I don’t remember any numbers.

    But yeah, I’m pretty curious too.

    Do you know how many members there are on Ricochet?

    • #26
  27. captainpower Member
    captainpower
    @captainpower
    12:12 PM PDT ⋅ Jun 20, 2015

    Titus Techera:Do you know how many members there are on Ricochet?

    I don’t. I’m pretty sure they are trying to avoid disclosing that number as a trade secret or something.

    • #27

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