Get the Ricochet app

Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Become a member.

Tired of the toxicity of social media? Why not join Ricochet for just $5/month? Think of it as an online bar. Come in, have a drink, hang out, say whatever you want. But don’t badger, bully, or berate the other drinkers. That's our only rule.

Raised Middle Finger

Subscribe to The Ricochet PodcastSubscribe

This week, we bring you two very different views of the current state of the Republican Party courtesy of two of the smartest observers we could find. First, former RNC chair and Mississippi governor Haley Barbour stops by to remind us to be adults and remember that Donald Trump will be a better president than Hillary Clinton. But later, the great Charles Murray (read his incredible essay "Trump's America" here) makes the opposite case: Trump will be an unmitigated disaster to be avoided at all costs. It's a stark contrast in views and -- take our word for it -- required listening. Where do you fall? Let us know in the comments. Note: this podcast is quite a bit longer than usual, but we thought this conversation warranted it.

Music from this week’s episode:

When The Word Ends by Dave Matthews Band

The 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

Ricochet400

This podcast is brought to you by Hillsdale College and their Constitution 101 course. You can sign up for FREE today. Once you start the course, you’ll receive a new lecture every week to watch on demand, along with readings, discussion boards, and more. Sign up for Constitution 101 for FREE at Hillsdale.edu/Ricochet

Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 8.56.20 AM

This podcast is brought to you by Harry’s Shave. For the finest shave at the best price, got Harrys.com and use the coupon code RICOCHET at checkout.

mzl.zlixsgsv

For a limited time stream The Fundamentals of Photography from The Great Courses Plus for Free. Go to TheGreatCoursesPlus.com/Ricochet

Hosts:
Charles C. W. CookeJames LileksSteve Hayward

Discussion (69)

  • Douglas@Douglas
    Replyingtokatievs

    katievs (View Comment):

    I can’t listen to Haley Barbour after his machine’s support for Thad Cochran against a true conservative in the last race. The man seems to have sold his soul.

    While everything you say is true, I think the bigger truth is this question: Who hasn't sold their soul in Washington DC? Especially on our side. I think if we're honest, we're going to find that it's a very, very short list.

    The revolt proceeds, and we've reached the stage where the various factions have realized they can't stop it, and are now engaged in rice bowl protection mode.

  • Benjamin Glaser@BenjaminGlaser

    I just skipped over Haley's comments and went to Charles Murray. As a resident of Mississippi I echo Katievs's comments. It was worse than you can imagine. It was so bad many McDaniel supporters have dropped out of any political action since then.

    Re-reading Dr. Murray's Coming Apart and it is just a screenplay for the Trump menace.

    He foresaw this and told everyone it would happen.

Scroll for later comments
+64 more comments
Join the conversation

You're seeing five of 69 comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.