The Ricochet Podcast #612

The World Is Not Enough

5215
Hosted by James Lileks & Peter Robinson
With guest Kori Schake

It’s hard to win these days. Not only do we have worries about war, we’ve got worries over worries about war. Is the Biden administration’s foreign policy dangerously cautious? That’s what Peter and James discuss – and argue about – with our guest, AEI’s Kori Schake.

The hosts (minus Rob, who was off podcasting elsewhere…) also chat about Italy’s Giorgia Meloni; James gets peeved, and it’a lots of fun; they do some speculating of their own about the bubbles in the Baltic; and Peter recalls the time he had dinner with a mega-celeb and had no idea who said mega-celeb was.

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The Ricochet Podcast #611

Hot For Cleveland

2311
Hosted by Charles C.W. Cooke, James Lileks & Peter Robinson
With guests Toby Young & Troy Senik

Today we cover breaking news and the hardly recognizable past. Toby Young joins at the top to to tell us about his personal experience with PayPal’s shot at free speech. Later, our old pal Troy Senik returns to give Grover Cleveland the reassessment he deserves. (Get a copy of Troy’s book here!)

Peter, James and Charlie (Rob’s sub for the day) chew over the FBI given whistleblower Kyle Seraphin’s allegations; and they have thoughts on the Biden administration’s dilemma in announcing that the pandemic is over.

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The Ricochet Podcast #610

Faith in Princes, Faith in God

1912
Hosted by James Lileks, Peter Robinson & Rob Long
With guests David Limbaugh & Nicholas Eberstadt

As promised our old friend David Limbaugh returns to the podcast to rant a bit and maybe pitch a few books on the side. We talk open borders and Martha’s Vineyard and then cover his latest volume, The Resurrected Jesus: The Church in the New Testament, which he wrote with his daughter, Christen Limbaugh Bloom.

We also welcome in American Enterprise Institute scholar Nicholas Eberstadt (fresh from his appearance on Uncommon Knowledge) about his new book Men Without Work: Post-Pandemic Edition. They also talk about pessimism and young people afraid of their own shadows.

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The Ricochet Podcast #609

A Very Fond Farewell

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Hosted by Charles C.W. Cooke, James Lileks & Rob Long
With guest Toby Young

It’s hard to call it unbelievable when a 96-year-old mortal shuffles off, but Queen Elizabeth II’s final departure has had a peculiar effect. Hoping to have the feeling articulated without sentimentality, we asked on a couple English friends (Charlie Cooke filling in for Peter and London Calling’s Toby Young) to discuss her importance, and what her death means for the Commonwealth.

We get into Charles III and the future of the monarchy; wonder whether the public ethic and sense of mission will die with the Queen; and contemplate the idea that Britain’s ironic humor may be what holds the whole thing together. Plus, Charlie approves of Ron DeSantis’ “Thank you, Governor” ad; and Rob finds something amusing about mayors up north making statements that sound oddly similar to Greg Abbot’s and Doug Ducey’s with regard to immigration surges.

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The Ricochet Podcast #608

Dramatic Docs

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Hosted by James Lileks, Peter Robinson & Rob Long
With guests Bill Barr & John O'Sullivan

You saw the pictures! The walls are finally closing in; or maybe it’s the floor that’ll finally move in on Trump! Or maybe everyone should cool their jets, as our guest Bill Barr might recommend. The former Attorney General joins us again to discuss what we know (and don’t know) about the latest legal troubles for the former president. Without getting ahead of the facts, Barr thinks through the search itself; partisanship in the Justice Department; and the kind of fighters the Republican Party needs.

And John O’Sullivan joins the gang at the top to remember his and Peter’s old foe, Mikhail Gorbachev. They dispel the lefty fantasy that Gorby was the real hero of the Cold War, but also give credit where it’s due. Plus, Peter recounts the time he got the man to scribble on a baseball.

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The Ricochet Podcast #607

Tossing The Elf Out With The Chump Change

2913
Hosted by Charles C.W. Cooke & Rob Long
With guest Dr. Jay Bhattacharya

It’s hard to put words to the audaciousness of President Biden’s latest charade. Good thing we have an Englishman! Our friend Charlie Cooke is filling in for Peter and James to talk about Joe’s promise to liquidate the American social contract. He and Rob also get into midterms and search in vain for a Republican national agenda.

And since we can’t help but cling to a bit of good news, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya joins from Rome to give Fauci his final grade. He also gets into “fringe” science, corrupting conflicts of interest, and forgiveness. (And you’ll never guess who he’s just met!)

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The Ricochet Podcast #606

Fishing Expedition

9713
Hosted by James Lileks, Peter Robinson & Rob Long
With guest Eli Lake

Since our plans to hide away forever at a remote Minnesotan lake house were dashed – on account of James not having one for us – we decided instead to jump on into the mucky swamp that’s swallowed up our institutions. At least we have Eli Lake (who, as you’ll hear, knows everybody) to tour us through the law enforcement agencies who’ve undermined their standing with the public in order to get the guy who they blame for undermining the public’s trust in them…

Also, the hosts chat some about the former rep from Wyoming; a Florida judge who hopes to stop Gov. DeSantis from stopping the woke; Lileks is seeing a resurgence of masking; plus, Rob had lunch with Viktor Orbán!

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The Ricochet Podcast #605

We Called It A Raid…

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Hosted by James Lileks & Peter Robinson
With guest Andy McCarthy

We’re not short on takes about the search (or whatever you wanna call it) at Mar-a-Lago this week; but one can’t ever get enough of people who know what they’re talking about when it comes to something as big as this!

Ricochet’s old friend Andy McCarthy joins to provide just that kinda commentary. He gives some essential vocab clarifications; lays out the charges he believes the Justice Department is actually seeking; and ponders how and when the ethos of the agency went awry – and how he thinks it could be brought back.

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The Ricochet Podcast #604

Face-Saving Megalomaniacs

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Hosted by "Lucretia", James Lileks & Steve Hayward
With guest Michael Auslin

With all the sound and fury surrounding Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, we think it’s timely to hear from an expert on the Indo-Pacific to see if it signifies much. Misha Auslin, host of The Pacific Century, joins to do just that. He identifies the silver lining in the whole affair; elucidates how China’s strategy has frozen us from stating our interests; points to the return of the engagement crowd; and deduces the motivations behind China’s intimidation games.

And with Peter and Rob off the grid, the Power Line podcasters Steve Hayward and Lucretia implement the next phase of their auricular invasion. With James, they jaw on energy policies, Arizona’s primaries, DeSantis’s move against an insubordinate state attorney, lawlessness in Minneapolis and the Kansas vote.

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The Ricochet Podcast #603

Toss ‘Em In The Pin

2015
Hosted by "Lucretia", James Lileks & John Yoo
With guests Rafael Mangual & Steve Hayward

It’s a free-for-all on the Ricochet Podcast this week! Rob and Peter are off enjoying the last gasp of Summer, so filling in are the effervescent John Yoo and the mysterious “Lucretia”. Our official guest is Rafael Mangual, the newly minted author of Criminal (In)justice, which compiles his years of studying criminality in the U.S. and the progressive inaction of those charged with fighting it.

Steve Hayward also pops in from Scotland, as seeing John and his Power Line Podcast co-host Lucretia as guest hosts is making him nervous about the security of his lucrative side gig here on the flagship. The merry gang also discuss the much-talked-about definition of “recession”; naturally, there’s some talk about SCOTUS and the philosophy of law; plus, John and Lucretia have some thoughts on the possibility that Congress investigates Anthony Fauci.

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The Ricochet Podcast #602

The Kabuki People Want To See

4113
Hosted by James Lileks, Peter Robinson & Rob Long
With guest Sonny Bunch

With heat waves, and the inevitable extinction of humanity practically around the corner, why not talk about what’s happening in the cool, comfortable theaters that we’re told are also doomed? To help us keep things light and pleasant, we’ve recruited film critic Sonny Bunch to chat about the elegiac Top Gun: Maverick, the rockin’ biopic Elvis, and the not-so-buzzy Lightyear. 

The trio also get into the President’s positive Covid test – which isn’t a big deal all of a sudden. They discuss the calls for “executive beast mode,” and ponder one of the biggest existential questions of all: what’s up with a moose in the wild?

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The Ricochet Podcast #601

Hot and Free

3012
Hosted by Charles C.W. Cooke, James Lileks & Rob Long

This week, it’s another round of Question Time, this week with actual (OK, former) British person Charles C.W. Cooke sitting in for Peter Robinson, We cover Florida, guns, newspapers, — an entire smorgasbord of topics (what’s British for smorgasbord?).

Music from this week’s episode: I Know There’s An Answer by The Beach Boys

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The Ricochet Podcast #600

Not Done With Fun

2815
Hosted by James Lileks, Peter Robinson & Rob Long
With guests Noah Rothman & Toby Young

We’ve made it to 600, and in spite of the seemingly never-ending buffet of bad news that got our hosts talking in the first place, we manage to have a good time. Our first guest is Noah Rothman, whose latest book, The Rise of the New Puritans: Fighting Back Against Progressives’ War on Fun, takes a deep dive into the fanatics out to break up our good time.

Then Toby Young (host of Ricochet’s very own London Calling podcast) jumps on to talk about the fall of his old friend Boris Johnson. Was it his personality or his policies that drove him out of 10 Downing? And what’s next for Britain’s Conservative party?

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The Ricochet Podcast #599

Judgment Day

1913
Hosted by James Lileks, Peter Robinson & Rob Long
With guests Ian Rowe & John Yoo

Whoa. Wow. Golly. And Hooray! Big news from SCOTUS today. A fifty year judicial error is finally corrected, and Ricochet’s Supreme Court expert John Yoo joins us at the top of the hour to explain. He talks about the unofficial Thomas/Alito court, discusses what this could mean for other landmark cases, along with a few other fresh decisions that, on any other day, would’ve merited a visit from our good pal Mr. Yoo.

Perhaps providentially, we asked AEI fellow and a charter school founder Ian Rowe to join before the news broke. What better time to have someone so committed to giving disadvantaged children a real shot at the good life? Ian’s just published his book, Agency: The Four Point Plan (F.R.E.E.) for ALL Children to Overcome the Victimhood Narrative and Discover Their Pathway to Power. He discusses his decision to turn away from the big bucks he could’ve attained with his Harvard Business degree in favor of taking on the hard work empowering America’s youth.

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The Ricochet Podcast #598

No Safe Spaces with Ann Coulter

11418
Hosted by James Lileks, Peter Robinson & Rob Long
With guest Ann Coulter

There are too few refuges for free speech. But on Ricochet our cup overfloweth! To keep things going full speed, we asked our friend Ann Coulter on to dish out an abundant full scoop. She’s just launched her new Substack and podcast to push back on… well, just about everyone who she believes is getting in the way of freedom, America and the families who make it great. As is her wont, Ann turns over more than a few stones. Most notably, she’s got a bone to pick with the January 6th Commission. And with Trump. And with the elites that went nuts because of Trump!

If you’re an unfettered lover of people calling it like they see it, this one’s for you. Wanna give Ann a piece of your mind?!? Join Ricochet and let her have it in the comments!

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The Ricochet Podcast #597

On The Cusp of the Volcano

8316
Hosted by James Lileks, Peter Robinson & Rob Long
With guest Douglas Murray

There are few on planet Earth who’ve spilled as much ink over concerns on Western Civilization’s decline as today’s guest Douglas Murray. Nevertheless, he’s betting long on America even though he’s well aware of the onslaught recounted in his latest bestseller, The War on the West. (Order your copy today!) Murray takes us through the complications of finding things to agree on when the past is upended by our foes; how his new home country became the heart of the problem; and the very fine surgical procedure needed to not only fight the good fight but to win it.

The fellas discuss the January 6th Committee–or rather, the diversion masquerading as an investigation. They’re somewhat intrigued by the public fur flying at the Washington Post, and they describe some of their tippy top pet peeves as far as vocabulary and grammar are concerned.

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The Ricochet Podcast #596

Ancient Highs and Lows

4612
Hosted by James Lileks, Peter Robinson & Rob Long
With guests Charles Hay & Yuri Yarim-Agaev

This week we move from the pits of a senseless war to the mount of the royal jubilee, and cover quite a bit of terrain in between. Our first guest is exiled Soviet dissident Yuri Yarim-Agaev, whose extensive knowledge of Vladimir Putin is tough to match. We get his take on the man and his motivation; how the supposed mastermind of intelligence operations became the victim of Russian disinformation; and, of course, why he believes it matters to Americans.

Next up is Peter’s former Oxford classmate, Charles Hay, the 16th Earl of Kinnoull. The hosts pick his brain on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the mysterious nature of her power, and his thoughts on a world which is lost–for better and for worse.

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The Ricochet Podcast #595

Doing The Right Something

4917
Hosted by James Lileks & Peter Robinson
With guest Charles C.W. Cooke

With a catastrophic tragedy in the news, the Ricochet mood is a bit more serious; but that doesn’t mean bad policy or sentimental grandstanding are appropriate courses of action. That’s why this week, we’ve invited a Second Amendment expert and parent on to the show. The one and only Charles C.W. Cooke.

He fields questions on the horror in Uvalde, the reaction from politicians and the press; the DPS, and a few potential resolutions to hopefully prevent so many of these terrible acts of violence. Peter and James also talk about the collapse of civic and moral norms that get far too little attention when these senseless crimes are discussed.

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The Ricochet Podcast #594

The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of

5015
Hosted by James Lileks & Peter Robinson
With guest Yoram Hazony

Rob’s off on vacation, but Peter’s back from the Promised Land! Thankfully you won’t have to wait until his next episode of Uncommon Knowledge is released to hear from Yoram Hazony, author of Conservatism: A Rediscovery. Yoram has revisited the past in the hopes of finding something new that conservatives will desperately need in order to offer something other than a another variant of liberalism. He answers his many critics and considers a plausible path of resistance against the progressive threat.

Later, Peter describes his faith-strengthening visit to Israel and James recounts the excitement of his chance to meet Ricochet members in New York. Plus, what’s the deal with Humphrey Bogart!?

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The Ricochet Podcast #593

Live… From New York!

1213
Hosted by James Lileks & Rob Long
With guests Byron York & Rich Goldberg

While Peter’s venturing about the real America, James is vacationing between the Hudson and East rivers so he can meet up with his pal Rob–and, more importantly!–fellow Ricochet members for our first pub crawl! We hope you won’t miss it; but don’t worry, we’ve got more events to come. (There’s even a surprise announcement for our next one herein!)

First up is a man who needs no introduction. The indispensable Byron York is here to give us an up-close take on the blamey Biden administration, and how the Dobbs leak might change the political playing field. He’s followed by Rich Goldberg, who’s been keeping track of the world of cryptocurrency since before it became as chaotic as it has recently.

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