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TT

Tevi Troy

Ex-#HHS Deputy Secretary & #WhiteHouse aide. Author of best-selling @whatjfrsnread and the new book Shall We Wake the President?

Series

3 Martini Lunch1 episode3 Whisky Happy Hour1 episodeFederalist Radio Hour1 episodeThe Back of the Book1 episodeThe Ricochet Podcast6 episodes

Recent Episodes

3 Martini Lunch
3 Martini Lunch

U.S. Bombs Iran Nuke Sites: The Mission, The Aftermath, & The Crazy Reactions

Presidential historian and Ronald Reagan Institute Senior Fellow Tevi Troy is in for Jim today. Join Tevi and Greg as they break down the U.S. bombings of three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday, the possible responses from Iran and the Trump administration's various comments about regime change, and the weird leftist condemnations of the strikes. First, they highlight the exceptional performance of the B-2 Bomber pilots, the lengthy and complex mission, and the airtight operational security, which may have been achieved by not telling any Democrats about the mission until after it happened. They also highlight how President Trump deftly pushed for a diplomatic solution, ramped up the tough talk, seemed to grant a two-week reprieve and then successfully surprised everyone with the timing of the strikes. Next, they contemplate what will come next - both from Iran and the United States. Will Iran close the Straits of Hormuz, focus on U.S. military bases in the region like today in Qatar, unleash sleeper cells in the U.S., or prioritize cyberterrorism? They also weigh in on Vice President Vance saying the U.S. does not have a goal of regime change in Iran while Trump openly suggests it on social media. Finally, they react to some of the most unhinged reactions to the bombings in Iran. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez thinks Trump's actions are impeachable. Obama administration figure Tommy Vietor says any deadly response from Iran will be because we started it. And even the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office condemned the bombings.
Host:
Greg Corombos
Organization
HMHelios Media

March 2025

The Back of the Book
The Back of the Book

Presidents and the Power of Popular Culture

Tevi Troy, a senior fellow at the Ronald Reagan Institute, talks to Chris about his books The Power and the Money: The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of Industry (Regnery History, 2024) and What Jefferson Read, Ike Watched, Obama Tweeted: 200 Years of Popular Culture in the White House (Regnery History, 2013). Tevi explains how different titans of the entertainment industry—the Warner brothers, Lew Wasserman, and Oprah Winfrey—developed and used relationships with such presidents as FDR, Reagan, and Obama. He also considers the different ways Joe Biden and Donald Trump have engaged with popular culture to develop their images and connect with voters. Plus, how did Tevi go from earning a PhD in American Civilization to working in the White House to becoming a presidential historian? Show Notes: Tevi’s newest book, The Power and the Money: The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of Industry More from Tevi about presidents and pop culture (C-SPAN) Follow Tevi on TwitterX: @tevitroy ICYMI: Chris’s conversation with Jonah Goldberg on The Remnant Chris’s upcoming book, 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (but Probably Haven’t Read) This episode is brought to you by Root & Branch Sheets: the only bedsheets designed specifically for unwanted guests! Opening and closing music: Brendan Benson, “Spit It Out,” used with permission from the artist.
Host:
Christopher J. Scalia
Organization
Ricochet

October 2024

Federalist Radio Hour
Federalist Radio Hour

Who’s Running The Country?

On this episode of "The Federalist Radio Hour," Tevi Troy, presidential historian and author, joins The Federalist's Senior Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle to discuss who is currently running the country, how the federal government's response to recent hurricanes compares to previous federal responses, and what the government's top resource is (and why they shouldn't squander it). You can find Troy’s book, The Power and the Money: The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of Industry, here. If you care about combatting the corrupt media that continue to inflict devastating damage, please give a gift to help The Federalist do the real journalism America needs.
Host:
Matt Kittle
Organization
The Federalist
The Ricochet Podcast
The Ricochet Podcast

The Forces & the Fracas

This week we cover a handful of great tug-of-war games, past, present, and future. Charles McElwee, founding editor of RealClearPennsylvania, returns to the podcast to give an election season tour of the swingy Keystone State. Next, Tevi Troy joins for a discussion about the epic clashes between America's masters of the universe and their presidents. (Be sure to get a copy of his new book, The Power and the Money.) Steve, Charlie and James also chatter about Florida's latest roaringly windy Wednesday, and end on the neutral note of AI symphonies. - Sound bites from this week's open: DeSantis remarks about climate change after Hurricane Milton; Biden's response about FEMA failures after Hurricane Helene
Hosts:
Charles C. W. CookeJames LileksSteve Hayward
Organization
Ricochet

April 2021

The Ricochet Podcast
The Ricochet Podcast

Can We Wake The President?

This week, we start in California, which is the subject of two piece published by The Founders in the current issue of National Review. Then, all the way from South Africa, COVID sceptic Nick Hudson, CEO of PANDA, a collective of leading scientists, actuaries, economists, data scientists, statisticians, medical professionals, lawyers, engineers and businesspeople working as a collective to replace bad science with good science. Hudson and his group have done real research on lockdowns, their effectiveness and the various policies put in place around the world to mitigate COVID. Then, our old friend Tevi Troy joins to talk about Presidents, the coming financial crisis, electric cars, and more. Finally, we wrap up with some impressions of the ongoing Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis from someone who lives there. Music from this week's episode: Behind the Wall of Sleep by The Smithereens The video mentioned in the Nick Hudson segment may be viewed here. Part II is here.
Hosts:
James LileksPeter RobinsonRob Long
Organization
Ricochet

August 2020

The Ricochet Podcast
The Ricochet Podcast

Coconut Buttons

We've got a new VP candidate, we've got Mark Simon (right hand man to Hong Kong freedom fighter Jimmy Lai), we've got historian Tevi Troy on political conventions (or the lack of them) and using songs for political rallies, we've got a warning on Blazing Saddles and we've got a Lileks Post of the Week (courtesy of Ricochet member Sage Wolkenfeld) about the importance of dressing well. That's a pretty full show. What do you have for us? Music from this week's show: Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top
Hosts:
James LileksPeter RobinsonRob Long
Organization
Ricochet

February 2020

3 Whisky Happy Hour
3 Whisky Happy Hour

Fight! Fight! In the White House No Less!

This week we violate the legendary first rule of Fight Club with Tevi Troy, author of the wonderfully gossipy new book Fight House: Rivalries in the White House from Truman to Trump. Troy, a veteran of the George W. Bush White House and author of several previous books about overlooked aspects of the presidency, takes us on a tour of some of the legendary feuds and personality and power clashes in the West Wing. Our conversation offers up some of our favorite dishes on people ranging from Henry Kissinger, Richard Darman, and George Ball, to some of the subterfuges people use to conduct their fights (especially leaking). If you like White House gossip and mean-spirited backstabbing, this is the special episode for you! Exit music this week is fitting for the subject matter, "Pick Up the Pieces" by the Average White Band. Plus, in response to some reader questions from new listeners, at the end of this episode I explain the origin and meaning our our sign-off phrase, "Milk the soft power dividend!"
Host:
Steve Hayward
Organization
Ricochet

September 2017

The Ricochet Podcast
The Ricochet Podcast

Let’s Make A Deal

This week, Larry Kudlow sits in the Long Chair ® as the President and his new BFF's Chuck and Nancy strike a deal over dinner, Heritage's Steve Moore on the administration's tax plan and Tevi Troy on how the President did on Storm Watch '17. Music from this week’s podcast: The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead by XTC You're a good egg, @EJHill
Hosts:
James LileksLarry KudlowPeter Robinson
Organization
Ricochet

September 2016

The Ricochet Podcast
The Ricochet Podcast

Contagious

Another week, another show in which gab and you listen. This week, our guests are two world class gabbers: The Hoover Institution's Bill Whalen stops by to discuss the state of the race, and some predictions for the next 55 days. Then, author and Ricochet Podcast Super Fan Tevi Troy Skypes in to chat about his new book Shall We Wake the President?: Two Centuries of Disaster Management from the Oval Office. Also, Doc Jay's Do NeverTrumpers Lose Their Right to Whine?, the tightening polls, and why presidents must love Spock. Highly logical. Public service announcement: if you’re not a member of Ricochet and enjoy this podcast, be one of the 1,500 and join today. Music from this week’s podcast: Sick of Myself by Matthew Sweet The brand new opening sequence for the Ricochet Podcast was composed and produced by James Lileks. Yes, you should absolutely subscribe to this podcast. It helps! And leave a comment too! Turn your head and cough, EJHill.
Hosts:
James LileksPeter RobinsonRob Long
Organization
Ricochet

May 2016

The Ricochet Podcast
The Ricochet Podcast

Build That Wall

This week, we present a super-sized edition of the Ricochet Podcast (75 minutes plus of thoughtful jabbering!) where within, we attempt to answer a few burning questions: First, is Peter Robinson in the tank for Trump? Rob Long and James Lileks investigate. Then, Tevi Troy stops by to opine on his recent Politico piece, How GOP Intellectuals’ Feud With the Base Is Remaking U.S. Politics. Then, our old pal Mickey Kaus (aka The World's Most Unlikely Trump Supporter) joins to take a victory lap. Why? Because he's been saying for years that immigration would be a make or break issue for Republicans and he was right. But how does a liberal Democrat square his support for The Donald. You'll have to tune in to find out. Music from this week’s episode: You Only Live Twice by Nancy Sinatra The brand new opening sequence for the Ricochet Podcast was composed and produced by James Lileks. Yes, you should absolutely subscribe to this podcast. It helps! Support Our Sponsors!
Hosts:
James LileksPeter RobinsonRob Long
Organization
Ricochet