Losing The Enlightenment

There’s a lot at stake in this week’s jam-packed podcast. First up we’ve got Byron York (he of the Byron York Show on this very network) to update us on the administration that sees crises everywhere – except for the one at the border. Then the hosts get to chat with Andrew Gutmann, the New York parent who made waves recently for a publicized letter excoriating the fancy Brearly School for prioritizing wokeness and “safety” over education. Plus James gets to exhale as Minneapolis calms down, and Rob and Peter reflect on the late Walter Mondale.

Music from this week’s episode: Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2) by Pink Floyd

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  1. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously.  Except Rob Long, I guess.

    • #1
  2. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously. Except Rob Long, I guess.

    This is all over RINO Twitter, today. [redacted three letter CoC violation]

    • #2
  3. Stina Member
    Stina
    @CM

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously. Except Rob Long, I guess.

    Except? Just don’t take him seriously.

    • #3
  4. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Stina (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously. Except Rob Long, I guess.

    Except? Just don’t take him seriously.

    I don’t, but that doesn’t mean he’s not trying, and some people might fall for it.

    • #4
  5. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously. Except Rob Long, I guess.

    This is all over RINO Twitter, today. [redacted three letter CoC violation]

    It’s the one year anniversary of the mischaracterization of the Bleach / UV remarks.

    • #5
  6. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously. Except Rob Long, I guess.

    This is all over RINO Twitter, today. [redacted three letter CoC violation]

    It’s the one year anniversary of the mischaracterization of the Bleach / UV remarks.

    I’m going to effort relating to this.

    • #6
  7. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    I look forward to seeing Andrew Gutmann as a Ricochet Contributor and Podcaster, in the near future.

    • #7
  8. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    In regard to what Reagan thought of Mondale, Peter may have wanted to use the line from Howard Roark in “The Fountainhead.” 

    “But I don’t think of you.”

    • #8
  9. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    It’s crazy to discuss Biden as a serious person instead of the turnip-brained, John Gill character he is. Being controlled by Dr. Edith Biden or whoever is pulling his strings. But hey, the mean tweets are gone. 

    A vaccinated person wore a mask on a Zoom call with other world leaders? Good thing we are now respected by the world with Trump gone. I was okay with the tweets.

    • #9
  10. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously. Except Rob Long, I guess.

    This is all over RINO Twitter, today. [redacted three letter CoC violation]

    It’s the one year anniversary of the mischaracterization of the Bleach / UV remarks.

    How can we take Rob seriously when he keeps repeating this? This is why I stopped listening to the R podcast.

    • #10
  11. StoughtonObserver Inactive
    StoughtonObserver
    @Bruce W Banerdt

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously. Except Rob Long, I guess.

    This is all over RINO Twitter, today. [redacted three letter CoC violation]

    It’s the one year anniversary of the mischaracterization of the Bleach / UV remarks.

    How can we take Rob seriously when he keeps repeating this? This is why I stopped listening to the R podcast.

    Yeah but… Byron York and Peter? Gotta listen to it.

    • #11
  12. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    StoughtonObserver (View Comment):

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously. Except Rob Long, I guess.

    This is all over RINO Twitter, today. [redacted three letter CoC violation]

    It’s the one year anniversary of the mischaracterization of the Bleach / UV remarks.

    How can we take Rob seriously when he keeps repeating this? This is why I stopped listening to the R podcast.

    Yeah but… Byron York and Peter? Gotta listen to it.

    And JAMES!!!

    • #12
  13. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously. Except Rob Long, I guess.

    This is all over RINO Twitter, today. [redacted three letter CoC violation]

    It’s the one year anniversary of the mischaracterization of the Bleach / UV remarks.

    How can we take Rob seriously when he keeps repeating this? This is why I stopped listening to the R podcast.

    I’ve made a point of checking the comments every third Podcast or so to see if things have improved before going in for a listen. It’s clear they haven’t yet. Thanks for saving me the 45 minutes, Richard. I’ll try back in a few weeks maybe. 

    • #13
  14. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously. Except Rob Long, I guess.

    This is all over RINO Twitter, today. [redacted three letter CoC violation]

    It’s the one year anniversary of the mischaracterization of the Bleach / UV remarks.

    How can we take Rob seriously when he keeps repeating this? This is why I stopped listening to the R podcast.

    I’ve made a point of checking the comments every third Podcast or so to see if things have improved before going in for a listen. It’s clear they haven’t yet. Thanks for saving me the 45 minutes, Richard. I’ll try back in a few weeks maybe.

    Somewhat understandable, but you miss out on Andrew Gutmann & Byron York.

    And JAMES!!!

    • #14
  15. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    • #15
  16. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    That Trump supposedly said people should drink bleach, is not a different opinion.  It’s a lie.

    • #16
  17. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    It’s an 82 minute podcast and your heads are exploding over an off the cuff remark that lasted maybe 20 seconds and concludes by admitting that Trump was on to something. Weirdly, all of you left that part out, while simultaneously whining about how the President was misquoted. 

    🤷‍♂️

    • #17
  18. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Then why even bring it up?

    P.S.  I’m not one who didn’t listen.  James is more important than Rob.

    • #18
  19. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    It’s an 82 minute podcast and your heads are exploding over an off the cuff remark that lasted maybe 20 seconds and concludes by admitting that Trump was on to something. Weirdly, all of you left that part out, while simultaneously whining about how the President was misquoted.

    🤷‍♂️

    Rob says something like this almost every time I listen to the R podcast. I’m fine with listening to intelligent comments which differ from my thoughts. One thing that the last five years have made clear to me is that my political instinct and insights are better than what I hear from most of conservative punditry. For example, I told my wife Trump was going to win after the embarrassing video came out in early October 2016. HRC’s scandals forced the Dims to employ this prematurely. They would have preferred to drop it the Friday before the election like Bush’s DUI. I didn’t heat any pundit express my insight. So yes, I don’t think I miss anything by ignoring Rob.and no, I don’t have faith in our institutions.

    • #19
  20. JennaStocker Member
    JennaStocker
    @JennaStocker

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    It’s an 82 minute podcast and your heads are exploding over an off the cuff remark that lasted maybe 20 seconds and concludes by admitting that Trump was on to something. Weirdly, all of you left that part out, while simultaneously whining about how the President was misquoted.

    🤷‍♂️

    One of the things that I love about Ricochet and it’s members is its unique ability to attract a group of people who share common knowledge and love of ideas, without a frantic desperation to vilify contra opinions. It’s important to distinguish reasonable disagreement with those who share common goals and those who disagree while having airs of sanctimony or selective favor that results in detriment to the common goal. I hope we can still understand the difference, and also remember that an absence of ideological cleansing and welcoming of heterodox policy debate often distinguishes conservatives from progressives in modern times. I can roll my eyes at Rob, and move on to the bigger ideas at stake, even if he doesn’t want to go on that journey. And I can appreciate his inside-baseball political experience as a fact of living in a hyper-politicized America. I think most of us appreciate each other’s ideas and experiences as non-professional politicians or pundits – we are the ones most affected by the sausage making. And we have voices and ideas and opinions that matter just as much. Pick and choose our battles.

    • #20
  21. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    Richard Easton (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Even still “joking” that Trump said people should drink bleach, is way beneath anyone trying to be taken seriously. Except Rob Long, I guess.

    This is all over RINO Twitter, today. [redacted three letter CoC violation]

    It’s the one year anniversary of the mischaracterization of the Bleach / UV remarks.

    How can we take Rob seriously when he keeps repeating this? This is why I stopped listening to the R podcast.

    Could you please character him James?

    • #21
  22. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    JennaStocker (View Comment):
    I think most of us appreciate each other’s ideas and experiences as non-professional politicians or pundits – we are the ones most affected by the sausage making. And we have voices and ideas and opinions that matter just as much. Pick and choose our battles.

    That’s the way it used to be. Unfortunately every single Ricochet podcast that I’ve listened to since right before the election features Rob expressing the opposite of this. It was the thing I most appreciated about the podcast, the respectful tone of those who disagree. Please let me know when that becomes a standard everyone follows again. 

    • #22
  23. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    I have no idea why anybody thinks that the GOP has been fiscally responsible. It’s just dumb. It is better to worry about power.

    The part about the ACA is depressing. They had no mandate to pass that thing. The GOP had eight years to get ready to get rid of it. More than that, really. What are these people thinking?

     

    • #23
  24. Arnold Falk Inactive
    Arnold Falk
    @acfalk

    Andrew Gutmann should contact Dr. Larry Arnn at Hillsdale, and try to open a Barney charter school in NYC.

    Peter Robinson:  You know Dr. Arnn.  Get these two men together.  Perfect opportunity for them both, and the fine children of NYC.

    Arnold Falk

    • #24
  25. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    There is a school in Minneapolis called Agape that has incredible demand to get in. I forget the statistic, but they are extremely over subscribed. They have the curriculum he is talking about. I have heard the head of it explaining how they want to help people cookie cutter it. (no franchising or paying for proprietary ideas, it’s just free)I think they only go through eighth grade, though.

    They were in Hopkins and a Southeast suburb. I’m not sure what that situation is right now.

    • #25
  26. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    The Purpose Of Education Is Indoctrination, And To Steal From The Parents, Students, And Taxpayers™

    If they completely atomized the education system, the aggregate value would go straight up. The Education Edifice is a scam. College accreditation is a scam. It’s a cartel. Developing human capital is not a priority.

    • #26
  27. Stina Member
    Stina
    @CM

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Outright lies are not “different viewpoint”.

    But I understand your defense of Rob. You are just as illiterate and bought and propagated the same lie.

    Instead of admitting you are wrong, you’ll double down in conceit and arrogance.

    • #27
  28. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Re Peter’s question to Mr. Gutman about the supposed “educational benefit” of the woke critical race theory curriculum being pushed by school administrators (about minute 45). Although we see no educational benefit (and even educational harm) to that curriculum, I suspect (fear) that the people who are in power actually believe that they really are creating better people by instilling in them a morality the people in power truly think is better than Western Civilization (Judeo-Christian) morality. The school administrators may really believe that Woke Civilization is superior to Western Civilization.

    • #28
  29. Icarus213 Coolidge
    Icarus213
    @Icarus213

    Great podcast, thanks for having Gutmann on!  I read his letter on Bari’s Substack.

    And I think this is the only podcast I listen to that has people who regularly swing by the comments to tell everyone that they DON’T listen to the podcast.  It’s like calling your ex to tell her that you are NOT thinking about her.   

    • #29
  30. Blondie Thatcher
    Blondie
    @Blondie

    I want to echo @peterrobinson‘s intro of Byron York. His podcast is one of, if not the, best on Ricochet. I dare you to listen and not come away learning something new. He has always been the epitome of a professional. The other so called journalists out there could take a page from him. 

     

    • #30
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