Ben Shapiro, the conservative writer and journalist, spoke at Berkeley last week. They spent $600,000 on security. For lil’ ol’ Ben? Yes. He spoke bravely and well. In this “Q&A,” he talks about the experience with Jay, and about higher education, the political temperature in America, health care, and some other things. This episode is a quick blast o’ Ben.

Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America cheer a court decision that upholds Wisconsin’s right to work law and rejects the argument of organized labor that it has a right to part of workers’ paychecks. They also shudder as a new study shows students of all political stripes evenly divided on whether “hate speech” should be protected speech, whether it’s OK to shout down speakers they don’t like, or even whether uncomfortable views should be allowed on campus. And they have fun with a political ad that is a horrible parody of a famous scene from “Top Gun.”

Jon Gabriel (@ExJon) and Stephen Miller (aka @RedSteeze) welcome Dave Smith — a stand-up comedian, radio personality, and political commentator. He’s a frequent guest on “The Greg Gutfeld Show” and “Kennedy” and also hosts the podcasts “Part of the Problem” and “The Legion of Skanks.” Dave just released a new comedy special called “Libertas” which you can watch on the GaS Digital Network.

The intro song is “It’s On” by BRONCHO. Stephen’s song of the week is “Seasons (Waiting on You)” by Future Islands and Jon’s is “Spent the Day in Bed” by Morrissey. To listen to all the music featured on The Conservatarians, subscribe to our Spotify playlist.

Douglas Murray is a British intellectual, famous since he was a teenager. His latest book is “The Strange Death of Europe.” It is No. 1 on the U.K. bestseller list. In this “Q&A,” Jay asks him about politics and policy, of course. Politics and policy in Britain, America, and elsewhere. But they also talk about novels, poetry, and music. (Murray himself is a musician.) When you have time, spend an hour with one of the most interesting writers in the world, Douglas Murray.

Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America are happy to see Ben Shapiro was able to give his speech at Berkeley without incident in the auditorium and minimal unrest outside, which this year counts as very good news. They also unload on Harvard for offering convicted spy Bradley Manning, who now identifies as Chelsea Manning, a position as a visiting fellow, and only rescinding the offer after the intelligence community denounces the move. And they groan as a terrorist attack on the London tube injures 22 people and suggests terrorists there might be changing their tactics.

Jon Gabriel (@ExJon) and Stephen Miller (aka @RedSteeze) chat about the future Senator Kid Rock, media coverage of Hurricane Harvey, and the left’s rapid about-face on Antifa.

The intro song is “Ran” by Future Islands. Stephen’s song of the week is “Day I Die” by The National and Jon’s is “Green Eyes” by Hüsker Dü (RIP Grant Hart). To listen to all the music featured on The Conservatarians, subscribe to our Spotify playlist.

Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America are back from vacation. Before discussing the day’s martinis, they remember the horrific events of September 11, 2001 and why we must remember what happened that day. Then they welcome the news that Hillary Clinton will never run for office again and laugh as she blames the “godforsaken electoral college” among many other factors for her defeat last year. They also shake their heads as a tongue-in-cheek Facebook page encouraging people to “Shoot at Hurricane Irma” gets the media and even law enforcement very alarmed. And they sigh as the major networks once again send their reporters into fierce storms, somehow thinking we won’t believe there is a hurricane unless we see their people getting hammered by the rain and wind.

As Jay says at the outset, Kevin D. Williamson is one of his favorite writers and favorite people. In this hour, they explore a range of subjects either timely or timeless (and in some cases both). They talk about Kevin’s upbringing in West Texas. And about controversies he’s been involved in. (“White genocide”?) And about Trump, and economics, and immigration. They end on such topics as writers and composers. All in all, they explore the Williamsonian point of view, or the Williamsonian persuasion. Meet a man and a mind.

Michael Mukasey is one of the most distinguished lawyers in the country: a former federal judge, a former attorney general. With Jay, he talks about becoming a lawyer. And studying with Bork. Then he discusses some names now in the news: Jeff Sessions, Joe Arpaio, James Comey, Robert Mueller, Donald Trump … An interesting and stimulating Q&A about our law, our politics, and our fate.

It’s a very special episode of HWX, with Brian Ward and Paul Happe reconvening to discuss the critical issues of our time. Topics addressed include:

* The NFL season is about to kick off, but it wouldn’t be 2017 without a side dish of politics. The meaning of the Colin Kaepernick saga is investigated.

Jon Gabriel (@ExJon) and Stephen Miller (aka @RedSteeze) welcome Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson. Kristen is author of The Selfie Vote: Where Millennials Are Leading America (And How Republicans Can Keep Up) and co-founder of Echelon Insights, a research and analytics firm. She was one of TIME’s “30 Under 30 Changing the World,” one of ELLE’s 2016 “Most Compelling Women in Washington,” and co-hosts the podcast The Pollsters.

The intro song is “Real Maths/Too Much” by The Gotobeds. Stephen’s song of the week is “Knocked Down” by The War on Drugs and Jon’s is “Drained Lake” by Metz. To listen to all the music featured on The Conservatarians, subscribe to our Spotify playlist. You also should subscribe to this podcast and give it five-star, glowing reviews on iTunes!

As Jay says, Robert Costa is one of the leading political reporters and analysts in the country. He works for the Washington Post and appears on NBC and MSNBC. He is also host of “Washington Week,” the venerable public-affairs program on PBS.

Jay asks him about the Trump White House: Is it still fun to cover? Still juicy, even with the arrival of the disciplined General Kelly? What about McMaster? What about (the departed) Bannon? What about Sarah Sanders?

Jon Gabriel (@ExJon) and Stephen Miller (aka @RedSteeze) chat about Hurricane Harvey, Maybelline Macron, and why Sheriff Joe Arpaio is in no way a conservative. We also ask the question: if the ACLU isn’t willing to defend their own speech, how will they defend anyone else’s?

The intro song is “Just Like Heaven” by Dinosaur Jr. (covering The Cure’s classic). Stephen’s song of the week is “Mourning Sound” by Grizzly Bear and Jon’s is “Two Thousand and Seventeen” by Four Tet. To listen to all the music featured on The Conservatarians, subscribe to our Spotify playlist. You also should subscribe to this podcast and give it five-star, glowing reviews on iTunes!

The world is quaking with problems; America has a few of its own. Jay talks about some of them with Elliott Abrams, late of the Reagan State Department and the Bush (43) White House, now with the Council on Foreign Relations.

The Afghan War: Should we be continuing it? What does victory look like? North Korea: Is Steve Bannon right? Do they “got us”? Russia: Was Congress right to sanction them as they did? Is this a usurpation of executive authority? What about Ukraine: Arm them?

Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America sigh as public squabbles between President Trump and GOP congressional leaders and members leaves us wondering if they will get anything consequential accomplished by the end of the year. They also wince as terrible poll numbers for President Trump on several questions reflect what may be a rough road ahead for Republicans in 2018. And they roll their eyes and unload on Hillary Clinton over her new book excerpts.

Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America give President Trump credit for admitting his Afghanistan policy changes go against his instincts, and they also like some of the other changes he outlined in a policy with few good options. They also enjoy seeing the woeful fundraising totals for the DNC in July and discuss the deep dysfunction still engulfing the Democrats. And they shake their heads as a criminal in Texas is arrested for plotting to bring down a Confederate statue with explosives.

Sir Roger Scruton is the British philosopher, novelist, composer, etc. Jay likes to talk to him about pressing issues of the day and timeless ones as well. Sometimes, they are in the same group. On this podcast, Jay talks with Sir Roger about the “post-truth age.” And Donald Trump. And the nature of conservatism. And patriotism versus nationalism. And Russia. And democracy.

Do you want more? There is the question of social welfare and whether capitalism can deliver the goods. There is the question of Amazon, the online retailer: Is Trump right in his attacks on it? There is also the question of the smartphone, and all related to it: Are we losing the ability to be fully or properly human? Are the social media robbing us of our manhood, somehow?

Yefim “Fima” Bronfman is one of the greatest pianists of our time. He has been playing at the Salzburg Festival, where Jay has been working. The two of them sat down for a “Q&A,” covering a range of topics: composers, pianists, and the musical life. A fine opportunity to hear words from someone famous for notes.

P.S. The podcast goes out with Bronfman in Prokofiev’s famous, fearsome “Precipitato,” from his Sonata No. 7.

Jon Gabriel (@ExJon) and Stephen Miller (aka @RedSteeze) chat about the infamous Google memo, Colin Kaepernick’s unemployment, whether the NRA is losing its aim, and share their plans for the apocalypse.

The intro song and Jon’s song of the week is “Delay” by Rips. Stephen’s song of the week is “Eden Machine” by Trailer Trash Tracys. To listen to all the music featured on The Conservatarians, subscribe to our Spotify playlist. You also should subscribe to this podcast and give it five-star, glowing reviews on iTunes!

Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America applaud Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo for pointing out that nuclear threats from North Korea are no big news for the tiny island, and that Americans there should go about their business as they would on any other day. However, Jim and Greg still have some reservations about the idea of North Korea firing missiles designed to land just 20 miles off Guam’s shores. And they throw up their hands in reaction to a new survey showing that more than half of Republicans would support postponing the 2020 elections if President Trump wanted to assure that only eligible voters took part. They are exasperated both at the response and for pollsters asking a worthless hypothetical question in the first place.