The Ricochet Podcast
847 episodes - English - Latest episode: 27 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1.2K ratingsWeekly episodes of Ricochet’s flagship podcast feature our hosts James Lileks, Rob Long, Peter Robinson, and guests discussing the issues of the week.
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Episodes
A Supreme Moment
September 29, 2018 18:58 - 1 hour - 38.3 MBNo guests this week, just our hosts reflecting on a week that will not soon, if ever, be forgotten. We look at the testimony from both Kavanaugh and Ford, the reaction and remarks from the Judiciary Committee, from the media, and from friends. We wind up with some predictions from the hosts as to whether or not Brett Kavanaugh will get confirmed. Give us your predictions in the comments. Source
Judging The Judge
September 22, 2018 18:03 - 1 hour - 32.9 MBWe’ve reached peak news cycle. So much going on. And when that happens, we reach out to people who make it their business to cover the news: that’s the WSJ’s Bill McGurn and the Washington Post’s Bob Costa. They help us sort through the Kavanaugh controversy, the scandals in the Catholic Church, trade wars with China, and some predictions about the upcoming mid-terms. Also... Source
Curtain Call
September 14, 2018 19:14 - 1 hour - 36.2 MBThis week on the podcast, silly political controversies, a good old fashioned smear campaign, some expert analysis from Millennial voter expert Kristin Soltis Anderson, we visit New Hampshire’s 1st District to check in on Republican candidate Eddie Edwards, CBS CEO Les Moonves gets #MeToo’d, and guess which podcast host actually defends the President in this podcast? The answer will surprise you. Source
It's All OK
September 07, 2018 18:08 - 1 hour - 30.3 MBHugely busy week, which means a hugely busy podcast. This week, the invaluable Byron York stops by to set us straight on just who might have penned that NYT op-ed, where in the world Bob Mueller is, and other D.C. shenanigans. Then Christopher Scalia, who knows a thing or two about the Supreme Court, joins to discuss the Kavanaugh circus, er, hearings. Also, so long, Bandit — you were one the of... Source
State Fair
August 30, 2018 13:00 - 1 hour - 34.5 MBThis week, we do a Rico-Centric show with our regular crew and our two trusty editors: Jon Gabriel (Ricochet’s beloved EIC) and Bethany Mandel, the Madonna of The Main Feed. We talk about flagpoles, conservatives on social media, an insider’s view of Arizona, why Instagram is the best social media platform (after this one, natch) and of course, Lileks gives the lowdown on the Minnesota State Fair. Source
Ask The Founders
August 17, 2018 16:40 - 1 hour - 36.5 MBThis week, Lileks is on vacation, so we forgo the guests and open the floor to you, our faithful Ricochet listeners. We get questions on the President (natch), Rob’s favorite restaurant, which Founding Father the founders resemble, who the characters on Cheers would have voted for and more. Also, Cuomo is a dumbo, newspapers collude, and so long to the Queen of Soul. R.E.S.P.E.C.T. Source
Space Force Cadets
August 10, 2018 19:09 - 1 hour - 36.9 MBDid someone say Space Force? That’s just too irresistible a topic for this podcast not to tackle in depth. So we do. But that’s not all. No sir. We also call on our friends Matt Continetti (he of the must listen Right and Righter podcast) to talk about Alexandria Cortez-Ocasio and what she means for American politics, and Byron York takes us for a deep dive on the status of the Mueller... Source
Flipping The Bird
August 03, 2018 18:52 - 1 hour - 37.7 MBThis week, a super-sized episode featuring scooters, Nebraska’s own Ben Sasse on trade, tariffs, Trump, and Kavanaugh, self-driving cars, Twitter mob, and more. We could say more, but really, you should just listen to the show. Music from this week’s podcast: Summertime by The Busters... Source
Life On Mars
July 27, 2018 18:42 - 1 hour - 33 MBThis week, we visit with Republican candidate for Senate in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Beth Lindstom, who’s running a valiant attempt to unseat someone by the name of Elizabeth Warren. No idea who she is. Then, our old friend Toby Young stops by to discuss his recent experience with the digital pitchfork and torch mob on the internet and what we ought to do about it (do read his fantastic... Source
The Last Straw
July 20, 2018 20:06 - 1 hour - 36.1 MBThis week, some rumination on Trump’s tete a tete with Putin (along with a history lesson for Rob Long), we introduce you to Elizabeth Heng, who is running for Congress in California’s 16th District, we get some #MeToo education from our good pal Mona Charen, (stop whatever you’re doing and buy her book Sex Matters right now) and the city of Santa Barbara declares that if you use a straw in that... Source
No Deal Is A Good Deal
July 13, 2018 19:05 - 1 hour - 32.1 MBThis week, we travel across the pond to talk with our good mate James Delingpole to get his very hot take on Trump’s visit, What May or May not happen to the current Prime Minister, and get his impression of that so called Baby Trump Blimp. Also, we’ve got a new SCOTUS nominee and his age is a trigger warning for one of our hosts, that fantastic Tweet storm by Ricochet alum Claire Berlinski... Source
Red Hens and Dogs
June 29, 2018 18:43 - 1 hour - 35 MBAs you’ll hear, there were many possible titles for this episode, but we went with the simplest and most descriptive for we spewing a fair amount of time covering both. But we also have on the supreme Supreme Court expert Adam White from the Hoover Institution (listen to his new podcast with Richard Epstein here) to discuss all things SCOTUS and the great Salena Zito (read her new book The Great... Source
Bull Session
June 15, 2018 18:07 - 1 hour - 36.1 MBAnother big news week and we’ve assembled the appropriate heavy hitters to help us parse it: first up, Victor Davis Hanson weighs in on North Korea, the IG report, and why the case for collusion is looking weaker and weaker every day. Then, Andrew McCarthy ( listen to his brand new podcast, The McCarthy Report) stops by for some in-depth analysis on that IG report and what it means for the... Source
The Things That Matter
June 08, 2018 18:38 - 1 hour - 31.4 MBWe cribbed the title of this week’s show from Charles Krauthammer’s book as it perfectly describes what we’re feeling this week after the announcement from the good doctor and the deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. We get reactions from our guests, Rod Dreher and Andrew Klavan, who also delve into other topics, including psychedelics, why Trump is a great President, cake baking, and more. Source
Star Power
June 01, 2018 18:06 - 1 hour - 34.1 MBThis week, we take a bit of break from the politics of the day to delve into the culture a bit with our guest Richard Rushfield, Editor-in-Chief of the indispensable Ankler show business newsletter. We talk Roseanne, Samantha Bee, the Disney/Comcast merger, and yes, even some Solo. Then, our good friend and McRib connoisseur John Yoo stops by to a talk about pardons, special counsels... Source
Advice to Grads?
May 25, 2018 18:42 - 1 hour - 32.6 MBThis week, we wanted to do a show aimed at graduating students — which is why we booked The WSJ’s Andy Kessler to discuss his column Advice to New Grads: Scale or Bail and Amy “Tiger Mom” Chua (yes, her new book Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations isn’t strictly for grads, but hey, she’s the TIGER MOM). But one of our podcasters decided to hijack that theme and take us on his... Source
Kudlow, Gen X, and Tom Wolfe
May 18, 2018 19:31 - 1 hour - 36.7 MBAfter a rousing live edition of the podcast in DC, we’re back on virtual home ground and we hit the ground running. First up, our old pal Larry Kudlow former Ricochet podcaster, current Director of the National Economic Council stops by to dish on the economy, Milton Friedman, working in the White House, and he declares a certain podcaster #NeverTrump (spoiler alert: it’s not who you think it is). Source
In Hot Water in D.C.
May 14, 2018 19:14 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBIt takes a special occasion to take The Big Show® to bigger things and higher heights. What’s bigger than the AEI/Ricochet Podcast Summit? Try the 400th episode of our aural extravaganza. There are ruminations on the changes in our nation’s capital since the Reagan years, presidential portraits and Korean water heaters. (Yeah, Korean water heaters.) Meanwhile, Peter attempts a variety of new... Source
Peace In Our Time?
May 04, 2018 18:30 - 1 hour - 32.3 MBThis week, we go deep on North Korea with AEI’s Nicholas Eberstadt and Salena Zito tells us not to break out the surf boards quite yet — that blue wave may not be so big after all. Also, Rudy can’t fail and Peter Robinson gets schooled on Kanye. Yo. Music from this week’s podcast: Rudi Can’t Fail by The Clash... Source
Suicide of The West
April 27, 2018 18:43 - 1 hour - 28.8 MBThis week, it’s our good pal Jonah Goldberg for the full hour to talk about his new book, Suicide of the West: How the Rebirth of Tribalism, Populism, Nationalism, and Identity Politics is Destroying American Democracy (yes, you MUST buy it!). We delve into the book’s argument, the lineage of the title, and what can be done in terms of suicide prevention. It’s a fantastic conversation. Also... Source
Waiting on a Friend
April 19, 2018 18:29 - 1 hour - 35.4 MBThis week on the Big Show®, we’ve got former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul (pre-order his new book From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia) on the new warming relations with North Korea, what to do about Syria, and yes, that pesky President Putin. Then Commentary’s associate editor Noah Rothman (yes, he’s one of the stars of the world famous Commentary... Source
The Business We've Chosen
April 13, 2018 20:06 - 1 hour - 29.6 MBThis week, two terrific reporters join us from their beats: first up, Salena Zito., National Political Reporter for The Washington Examiner (and author of the forthcoming book The Great Revolt: Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics) as well as an expert on the denizens of Trump country. Then, Debra Saunders, the White House Correspondent of the Las Vegas Review-Journal gives us... Source
Ask The Founders
April 06, 2018 18:07 - 1 hour - 36.1 MBA few times a year, we forgo the guests and open the floor to you, our faithful members to ask us anything. Also, some thoughts on the firing of Kevin Williamson and announcing our live podcast event in Washington DC on May 10th and 11th! Music from this week’s episode: Bad Blood by Taylor Swift... Source
Coulter & Kaus at Columbia University, with Rob Long (Explicit)
March 31, 2018 01:37 - 1 hour - 41.3 MBIn this bonus episode, Ricochet founder Rob Long leads a discussion between Ann Coulter and Mickey Kaus hosted by the Columbia University College Republicans. The event took place on March 27, 2018. Listener beware: There’s some explicit language. Source
A Roseanne By Any Other Name
March 30, 2018 19:36 - 1 hour - 31.1 MBThis week, we are very media centric: first, a few thoughts about the Ingraham-Hogg contretemps, then a deep dive into the Rosesanne phenomenon with noted TV expert Rob Long. After that, it’s out good pal Robert Costa, national political correspondent for The Washington Post and inexplicably a Phish fan (but we still love him). Finally, Niall Ferguson, the Hoover Senior Fellow and the author of... Source
How Sweet It Is
March 24, 2018 17:58 - 1 hour - 35.4 MBFirst, apologies to all of our faithful listeners for being 24 hours late with this edition of the Ricochet Podcast — we were felled by technical issues yesterday with the first half of the show. But this one is worth the wait: first, Original Cast Member Rob Long is back from making TV great again and has been seated in his rightful place in the host chair (from Miami Beach, no less). Then... Source
Winged Unicorn Flatuence
March 16, 2018 18:17 - 1 hour - 28.2 MBThis week — UNICORNS. Well, James mentions one. Also, the great Kori Schake on how we ought to deal with North Korea. Republican Congressional candidate in California’s 52nd District Michael Allman on using software to figure out what constituents want, some thoughts on Think Tank personnel changes, and a Ricochet Podcast host joins the Trump administration (no, Rob Long has not become Secretary... Source
Sowell Men
March 09, 2018 20:39 - 58 minutes - 26.8 MBThis week, we span the human entire life span: first up, 16 year old Marjory Stoneman High School junior and 2nd Amendment advocate Kyle Kushuv. Young Kyle has had a busy week, meeting with Senators, the President, the First Lady and others. We’re grateful he had a few minutes for us (thanks to Bethany Mandel for the help in booking him!). Next up, the éminence grise himself, the legendary... Source
We Need the Eggs
March 04, 2018 20:25 - 1 hour - 36.2 MBFor this (very) rare Sunday Ricochet Podcast, we’ve assembled our original cast as Rob Long, Peter Robinson, and James Lileks gather ’round their respective audio capture devices to chat about current events. Also stopping by, That Sethany Show hosts Seth and Bethany Mandel (the latter is of course also a Ricochet Editor and a member of The LadyBrains Podcast). Guns and due process, trade tariffs... Source
The Wrestlers
February 17, 2018 00:51 - 1 hour - 30.8 MBThis week, we mix it up across a wide variety of views with guests from all over the right side of the ideological map. First up, AEI’s Christina Hoff Sommers, author of The War Against Boys: How Misguided Policies are Harming Our Young Men. She wrote a Tweet this past week that set social media on fire. So we talk about that. Then, the main event: Charlie Sykes is a longtime time talk radio host... Source
Ups and Downs
February 09, 2018 21:17 - 1 hour - 29.8 MBWho doesn’t love a parade? Certainly not us. We also love a rising market, good explanations of complicated investigations, and clear and concise commentary on the economy. That’s why we invited Andrew McCarthy and Larry Kudlow on this week’s show. They ably guide us through both issues with clarity, good humor, and yes, a bit of scolding. Also, a Minnesotan’s view of the Super Bowl and more about... Source
Before the Deluge
February 02, 2018 19:27 - 1 hour - 28 MBFirst, let it be known that we recorded this podcast before The Memo® was released. We’ll dissect that (assuming there’s anything left to dissect) on next week’s show. Instead, we’ve got the great Bari Weiss from the New York Times to discuss the shaming of Nikki Haley, Aziz Ansari, and other cultural touchstones. Then, our old friend and consummate insider Haley Barbour talks immigration... Source
You're Fired
January 26, 2018 19:55 - 1 hour - 29.4 MBThis week, football, firings (real and alleged), and free trade. First up, the great Victor Davis Hanson, who’s National Review cover story is a balanced look at the pluses and minuses of Trump’s first year. After that, Philadelphia Eagles fan John Yoo (OK, he’s a law professor too) takes us through all the machinations, schemes, and strategies in the seemingly never-ending Mueller investigation. Source
Introducing "American History Tellers" from Wondery
January 25, 2018 20:09 - 8 minutes - 3.83 MBThis is a special announcement on behalf of our friends at Wondery podcast network. Introducing their new “American History Tellers” podcast: Every part of your life can be traced to our shared history, but how well do you know the real stories of our nation? American History Tellers takes you to the events, times, and the people that shaped America and Americans, and they’ll show you how American... Source
Shut It Down
January 19, 2018 19:31 - 1 hour - 31.6 MBWe’ve got the great Shelby Steele on the podcast this week (read him fantastic WSJ column Black Protest Has Lost Its Power) to discuss the NFL and (the lack of) racism in the culture. Then, the indispensable Jim Geraghty guides us through the politics of shut down. Finally, finally, a real sports discussion: Vikings fan boy James Lileks on his home town team. Music from this week’s episode: Shut... Source
The Hole Truth
January 12, 2018 20:45 - 1 hour - 28.3 MBYes, we discuss that phrase, but no, we don’t say the word. Instead, we do a deep dive on immigration with two of the sharpest minds on the issue: the Center for Immigration Studies’s Mark Krikorian and our good pal Mickey Kaus. Dig in. Music from this week’s podcast: Dreamer by Super Tramp... Source
That Book
January 05, 2018 19:44 - 1 hour - 29.8 MBFirst podcast of 2018 so we wanted to out our best foot forward. We’ve got Commentary’s Sohrab Ahmari on Iran and The Washington Examiner’s Byron York on The Book, collusion, and Congress. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy year. Music from this week’s show: Everyday I Write The Book by Elvis Costello... Source
Wrapping up 2017
December 22, 2017 18:58 - 1 hour - 31.8 MBThis is it. folks — our very last show of 2017. To help us take a look back, we’ve enlisted NewsMax CEO (and Trump confidant) Chris Ruddy who give us the inside Mar-A-Lago POV. Also, we tackle the following questions in this show (h/t: The Commentary Podcast): The best thing Trump did in 2017 The worst thing Trump did in 2017 What you thought would happen in 2017 that didn’t happen? Source
#Us Too
December 15, 2017 21:16 - 1 hour - 30.1 MBThis week, Powerline’s (and Berkeley’s!) Steve Hayward sits in and we anoint Roy Moore as a loser, Al Franken as a memory, and discuss with Ricochet alumni Claire Berlinski her fantastic and now famous piece The Warlock Hunt. Also, what exactly is Mueller mulling? And our guys pick their favorite movies of 2017. Music from this week’s episode: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Source
One Never Knows, Does One?
December 08, 2017 18:20 - 1 hour - 28.1 MBThis week, a run through Jerusalem with the Washington Free Beacon’s Matt Continetti and then back home to Alabama guided by the Wall Street Journal’s Bill McGurn. Also, Lileks on Franken and what’s next for Minnesota, Peter Robinson goes for a ride on the Orient Express, and what do they call a Quarter Pounder on Vulcan? Tune in to find out. Music from this week’s episode: One Never Knows... Source
A Fistful of Tush
December 01, 2017 19:32 - 1 hour - 28.6 MBThis week, a Minnesotan’s view on Franken and Keillor, we get handsy with our old pal David Limbaugh (would he vote for Roy Moore — tune it to find out), and a chat with an actual southerner about the south (that’s Weekly Standard writer Barton Swaim). Also, a bit about Flynn, and some turkey and tax talk. Music from this week’s episode: Stars Fell On Alabama by Ella Fitzgerald & Source
Black Friday
November 24, 2017 19:20 - 1 hour - 31.7 MBWe were going to take this week off, but then we decided why not gather a couple of hosts (that’d be Rob Long and James Lileks) and let them just riff on the events of the day and other topics, freeform for an hour or so. So that’s exactly what we did. Enjoy it! Music from this week’s podcast: Black Friday by Steely Dan... Source
Boilermakers
November 16, 2017 21:23 - 1 hour - 28.9 MBAs more (Moore?) sexual harassment revelations (the Al Franken story was breaking as we were recording this show) appear, we thought it might be good to take a breather and visit (by phone) our old friend and ardent Ricochet fan, Purdue University President Mitch Daniels. We talk about the state of higher education, what he’s doing at Purdue to combat student debt, and the place of academic... Source
The Politics of Moore
November 11, 2017 19:25 - 1 hour - 32.9 MBThis week, it’s the sexiest Ricochet Podcast in memory as we parse the continuing harassment revelations, and the troubling and bizarre saga of Judge Roy Moore. But before we get to that, former New York Congressman Chris Gibson stops by to talk about his book Rally Point: Five Tasks to Unite the Country and Revitalize the American Dream and his views on uniting the country and revitalizing the... Source
Secrets and Lies
November 04, 2017 17:28 - 1 hour - 35.2 MBThis week, noted author Rob Long (come on, buy his book!) is back on the big show, so we booked a guest he’d have a lot to chat about with, California Congressman Devin Nunes. We talk collusion, Russia, Mueller, all the good stuff. Also, Bush the elder says the President “is a blowhard,” are entitlements bad for the nation’s health?, and Steve Martin’s King Tut is racist. Well, at least at Reed... Source
The Greatest Game
October 27, 2017 17:45 - 1 hour - 31.5 MB“It’s time for the Ricochet Poooodcaaaast!” If only we had Vin Scully to announce that the epic way he did earlier this week at Game 2 of The World Series. But this podcast ain’t too shabby either: leading off we’ve got the great Mollie Hemingway on that whole dossier controversy and batting cleanup, it’s power-hitter Pat Sajak on the greatest game, this series, and why baseball will always be the... Source
The Greatest Wars
October 19, 2017 20:07 - 1 hour - 29.9 MBIt’s relatively rare to put out a Ricochet Podcast with only one guest, but when that guest is Victor Davis Hanson, well that’s all you need. First, we do a deep dive on Victor’s new must-read book The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won, a definitive history of WWII. Then, a bit of talk about current events, including North Korea. Go get your thinking cap out of... Source
The Mighty Have Fallen
October 13, 2017 20:31 - 58 minutes - 26.9 MBIt’s been a bad week for Hollywood’s grasp on moral authority. First, Harvey Weinstein is fired for transgressions going back decades, and then some guy from Amazon gets fired for basically the same thing. To help guide us through the moral minefield, we call up New York Times columns extraordinaire Ross Douthat. We also talk Hefner and that pesky 25th Amendment. Then, Christopher Scalia... Source
Guns N' Poetry
October 05, 2017 23:07 - 1 hour - 31.1 MBThis week, Jon Gabriel captains the good ship Ricochet in place of James Lileks and podcast amigo Andrew Klavan is in the Long Chair® this week. Our guests are Charles C.W. Cooke, the foremost authority on firearms (also roller coasters, but that’s for another show). Then, TV’s and noted Trump supporter Rob Long stops by to plug his new book Bigly: Donald Trump in Verse. Also... Source
Hurricanes, Knees, and Dr. Suess
September 30, 2017 20:42 - 1 hour - 31.3 MBThis week, we call of a couple of our most popular podcasters to help us parse the week’s events: Michael Graham, the Boston based host of or daily podcast Michael in the Morning sits in for Peter Robinson, while Michael Stopa from the Harvard Lunch Club podcast stops by to talk about how the President is doing so far (and yes, he and Rob Long get into another one of their epic rap battles). Then... Source