Sophie Haigney

Subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon to listen to this bonus episode, and all of our bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemyThe Grateful Dead Conservative (w/ Sophie Haigney)Another fun summer-y episode for you, our beloved subscribers: This time, we talked to writer, Paris Review editor, and Grateful Dead super-fan Sophie Haigney about a topic we've long pondered: the phenomenon of the "Grateful Dead conservative."Why is it that right-wing figures including Tucker Carlson, Ann Coulter, and Paul Ryan count the Grateful Dead among their favorite bands? Isn't there something odd about these social conservative luminaries loving the Dead, such avatars of 1960s psychedelia, libertinism, and hippie counterculture? Or else, have we misunderstood something essential about the band — their Americana roots, their individualist ethos, their reverence for transcendent experiences — which makes them particularly suitable to conservative sensibilities?And also why do we all love them so much — this band that tests our patience, produces largely forgettable studio records, and often sounds, in concert, as if they're playing their own songs for the first time? The mind reels...Strap in for a long, strange, improvisational trip to the heart of these bewildering matters.Further Reading:Sophie Haigney, "Those of Us Who Love the Dead," Gawker, Dec 3, 2021.— "The Final Dead Shows: Part One," The Paris Review, Jul 17, 2023.— "The Final Dead Shows: Part Two," The Paris Review, July 18, 2023.— "The Final Dead Shows: Part Three," The Paris Review, Jul 19, 2023.Ann Coulter, "I’m A Grateful Dead Fan For Life," Billboard, Jun 24, 2016.Noah Eckstein, "'Wave That Flag': Meet the Deadheads Who Stump for Trump," Variety, Nov 2, 2020.Zachary D. Carter and Arthur Delaney, "Why Do Conservatives Love The Grateful Dead? We Ask Tucker Carlson," Huffington Post, Jul 15, 2015.Dean Budnick, "Behind The Scene: Jake Sherman on Phish, the Grateful Dead and Covering 535 Class Presidents at Punchbowl News," Relix, May 12, 2021.Martin Longman, "Why Do Republicans Love the Grateful Dead?" Washington Monthly, July 3, 2015Nick Paumgarten, "Dead Head," The New Yorker, Nov 18, 2012.Hunter Schwartz, "Grateful Dead fans: Surprisingly Republican," Washington Post, Jul 1, 2015.Marc Tracy, "Saying Goodbye to the Dead. (Again.)" NYTimes, Jul 14, 2023.Andy Kroll, "Jon Huntsman: We Need a 'Grateful Dead Tour' to Save America," Mother Jones, Jan 8, 2012.

Subscribe to Know Your Enemy <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on Patreon</a> to listen to this bonus episode, and all of our bonus content: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy</a>The Grateful Dead Conservative (w/ Sophie Haigney)Another fun summer-y episode for you, our beloved subscribers: This time, we talked to writer, Paris Review editor, and Grateful Dead super-fan <a href="https://www.sophiehaigney.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sophie Haigney</a> about a topic we've long pondered: the phenomenon of the "Grateful Dead conservative."Why is it that right-wing figures including Tucker Carlson, Ann Coulter, and Paul Ryan count the Grateful Dead among their favorite bands? Isn't there something odd about these social conservative luminaries loving the Dead, such avatars of 1960s psychedelia, libertinism, and hippie counterculture? Or else, have we misunderstood something essential about the band — their Americana roots, their individualist ethos, their reverence for transcendent experiences — which makes them particularly suitable to conservative sensibilities?And also why do we all love them so much — this band that tests our patience, produces largely forgettable studio records, and often sounds, in concert, as if they're playing their own songs for the first time? The mind reels...Strap in for a long, strange, improvisational trip to the heart of these bewildering matters.Further Reading:Sophie Haigney, "<a href="https://www.gawker.com/culture/big-steve-hour-grateful-dead-nostalgia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Those of Us Who Love the Dead,</a>" Gawker, Dec 3, 2021.— "<a href="https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2023/07/17/the-final-dead-show-part-one/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Final Dead Shows: Part One</a>," The Paris Review, Jul 17, 2023.— "<a href="https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2023/07/18/the-final-dead-shows-part-two/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Final Dead Shows: Part Two</a>," The Paris Review, July 18, 2023.— "<a href="https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2023/07/19/the-final-dead-shows-part-three/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Final Dead Shows: Part Three</a>," The Paris Review, Jul 19, 2023.Ann Coulter, "<a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ann-coulter-im-a-deadhead-for-life-grateful-dead-7416520/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I’m A Grateful Dead Fan For Life</a>," Billboard, Jun 24, 2016.Noah Eckstein, "<a href="https://variety.com/2020/music/news/grateful-dead-heads-trump-supporters-1234821260/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">'Wave That Flag': Meet the Deadheads Who Stump for Trump</a>," Variety, Nov 2, 2020.Zachary D. Carter and Arthur Delaney, "<a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/grateful-dead-fans_n_7797674" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why Do Conservatives Love The Grateful Dead? We Ask Tucker Carlson</a>," Huffington Post, Jul 15, 2015.Dean Budnick, "<a href="https://relix.com/articles/detail/behind-the-scene-jake-sherman-on-phish-the-grateful-dead-and-covering-535-class-presidents-at-punchbowl-news/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Behind The Scene: Jake Sherman on Phish, the Grateful Dead and Covering 535 Class Presidents at Punchbowl News</a>," Relix, May 12, 2021.Martin Longman, "<a href="https://washingtonmonthly.com/2015/07/03/why-do-republicans-love-the-grateful-dead/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why Do Republicans Love the Grateful Dead?</a>" Washington Monthly, July 3, 2015Nick Paumgarten, "<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/11/26/deadhead" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dead Head</a>," The New Yorker, Nov 18, 2012.Hunter Schwartz, "<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/07/01/grateful-dead-fans-surprisingly-republican/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Grateful Dead fans: Surprisingly Republican</a>," Washington Post, Jul 1, 2015.Marc Tracy, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/14/arts/music/dead-and-company-final-tour.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Saying Goodbye to the Dead. (Again.)</a>" NYTimes, Jul 14, 2023.Andy Kroll, "<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/01/jon-huntsman-grateful-dead-new-hampshire-primary/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jon Huntsman: We Need a 'Grateful Dead Tour' to Save America</a>," Mother Jones, Jan 8, 2012.

Grateful Dead Conservatives (w/ Sophie Haigney) [TEASER]

Moira Donegan

Adrian Daub

Midge Decter

In this episode, Matt and Sam join Moira Donegan and Adrian Daub — co-hosts of the new podcast “In Bed With The Right" — for an in-depth look at the life, times, and work of the late Midge Decter, who died in 2022. Decter was inspired by a distinctly conservative, mid-century American reading of Freudian psychology, mobilized in defense of traditional family hierarchies, which made her an important link between neoconservatives and the religious right — unsurprisingly, she helped found or served on the boards of numerous conservative organizations, including the Heritage Foundation, Committee for the Free World, and the Independent Women's Forum, among others.  Her essays, books, and memoirs represent an anguished counter-revolt against the sexual liberation movements of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, and her trajectory from (ostensible) New Deal liberal to anti-feminist Cold Warrior proves a perfect subject for Know Your Enemy. Decter also was married to Norman Podhoretz (another subject of KYE lore) and the mother of John Podhoretz, current editor of Commentary magazine. A quarrelsome, Jewish conservative with a lively writing style and a fascinating, emblematic life story: what could be better?Further Reading:Midge Decter, An Old Wife’s Tale: My Seven Decades in Love and War (2002) —The New Chastity and Other Arguments Against Women's Liberation (1972)— Always Right: Selected Writings of Midge Decter (2002)— Liberal Parents, Radical Children (1975)— Rumsfeld: A Personal Portrait (2003)— “The Boys on the Beach,” Commentary, Sept 1980.— “Socialism &amp; Its Irresponsibilities: The Case of Irving Howe,” Commentary, Dec 1982.— “Documentation: Sex Education on Trial—What They’re Teaching Our Children,” Crisis Magazine, Dec 1, 1998.John Podhoretz, A Son’s Eulogy for Midge Decter (1927-2022), Commentary, May 12, 2022.R. R. Reno, “My Memories of Midge Decter,” First Things, May 11, 2022.Jeet Heer, “Farewell to Midge Decter, the Bigot on the Beach,” The Nation, May 13, 2022.Ronnie Grinberg, “An overlooked conservative writer helps explain Trump’s enduring appeal,” Washington Post, May 20, 2022.Douglas Martin, “Midge Decter, an Architect of Neoconservatism, Dies at 94,” NYTimes, May 9, 2022.Adrienne Rich, “The Anti-Feminist Woman,” NYRB, Nov 30, 1972. ...and don't forget to subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon for access to all of our bonus episodes!

In this episode, Matt and Sam join Moira Donegan and Adrian Daub — co-hosts of the new podcast “<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-bed-with-the-right/id1696774612" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">In Bed With The Right</a>" — for an in-depth look at the life, times, and work of the late Midge Decter, who died in 2022. Decter was inspired by a distinctly conservative, mid-century American reading of Freudian psychology, mobilized in defense of traditional family hierarchies, which made her an important link between neoconservatives and the religious right — unsurprisingly, she helped found or served on the boards of numerous conservative organizations, including the Heritage Foundation, Committee for the Free World, and the Independent Women's Forum, among others.  Her essays, books, and memoirs represent an anguished counter-revolt against the sexual liberation movements of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, and her trajectory from (ostensible) New Deal liberal to anti-feminist Cold Warrior proves a perfect subject for Know Your Enemy. Decter also was married to Norman Podhoretz (another <a href="https://know-your-enemy-1682b684.simplecast.com/episodes/podhoretz-pod-w-david-klion" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">subject of KYE lore</a>) and the mother of John Podhoretz, current editor of Commentary magazine. A quarrelsome, Jewish conservative with a lively writing style and a fascinating, emblematic life story: what could be better?Further Reading:Midge Decter, <a href="https://www.abebooks.com/Old-Wifes-Tale-Seven-Decades-Love/31361202775/bd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">An Old Wife’s Tale: My Seven Decades in Love and War</a> (2002) —<a href="https://www.abebooks.com/9780698104501/New-Chastity-Arguments-Against-Womens-0698104501/plp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The New Chastity and Other Arguments Against Women's Liberation</a> (1972)— <a href="https://www.abebooks.com/9780891951087/Always-Right-Selected-Writings-Midge-0891951083/plp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Always Right: Selected Writings of Midge Decter</a> (2002)— <a href="https://www.abebooks.com/9780698106758/Liberal-parents-radical-children-Decter-069810675X/plp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Liberal Parents, Radical Children</a> (1975)— <a href="https://www.abebooks.com/9780060560911/Rumsfeld-Personal-Portrait-Decter-Midge-0060560916/plp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rumsfeld: A Personal Portrait</a> (2003)— “<a href="https://www.commentary.org/articles/midge-decter-3/the-boys-on-the-beach/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Boys on the Beach</a>,” Commentary, Sept 1980.— “<a href="https://www.commentary.org/articles/midge-decter-3/socialism-its-irresponsibilities-the-case-of-irving-howe/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Socialism &amp; Its Irresponsibilities: The Case of Irving Howe</a>,” Commentary, Dec 1982.— “<a href="https://www.crisismagazine.com/vault/documentation-sex-education-on-trial-what-theyre-teaching-our-children-2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Documentation: Sex Education on Trial—What They’re Teaching Our Children</a>,” Crisis Magazine, Dec 1, 1998.John Podhoretz, A Son’s Eulogy for Midge Decter (1927-2022), Commentary, May 12, 2022.R. R. Reno, “<a href="https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2022/05/my-memories-of-midge-decter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Memories of Midge Decter</a>,” First Things, May 11, 2022.Jeet Heer, “<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/midge-decter-obituary-bigotry/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Farewell to Midge Decter, the Bigot on the Beach</a>,” The Nation, May 13, 2022.Ronnie Grinberg, “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/05/20/an-overlooked-conservative-writer-helps-explain-trumps-enduring-appeal/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">An overlooked conservative writer helps explain Trump’s enduring appeal</a>,” Washington Post, May 20, 2022.Douglas Martin, “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/09/books/midge-decter-dead.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Midge Decter, an Architect of Neoconservatism, Dies at 94</a>,” NYTimes, May 9, 2022.Adrienne Rich, “<a href="https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1972/11/30/the-anti-feminist-woman/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Anti-Feminist Woman</a>,” NYRB, Nov 30, 1972. ...and don't forget to subscribe to <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Know Your Enemy on Patreon</a> for access to all of our bonus episodes!

Midge Decter: Anti-Feminist Cold Warrior (w/ Moira Donegan & Adrian Daub)

Jesse Brenneman

Subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon to listen to this bonus episode, and all of our bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemyMatt and Sam welcome their intrepid producer and great friend Jesse Brenneman back to the third mic to talk about HBO's The Righteous Gemstones. In addition to being a wildly entertaining entry to the Danny McBride cinematic and television universe, the show perceptively explores the culture of American megachurch, evangelical Christianity—and offers your hosts plenty of fodder to discuss where faith ends and cynicism begins, the relationship between evangelicalism and consumer capitalism, cheap grace vs. real grace, whether or not people can change, the pathologies of evangelical purity culture, and much more. Plus: Jesse takes us behind the scenes of his brilliant, very funny podcast Tech Talk and its surprising connections to Elon Musk, Eli Gemstone, and others.Sources:John Jeremiah Sullivan, "Upon This Rock," GQ, January 24, 2004Austin Considine, "Danny McBride Keeps It Righteous," New York Times, June 14, 2023Doreen St. Félix, "The Lost Sheep of Danny McBride's The Righteous Gemstones," New Yorker, January 17, 2022Matthew Sitman, "Speaking of New York: An Interview with Fran Lebowitz," Commonweal, February 7, 2019

Subscribe to Know Your Enemy <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on Patreon</a> to listen to this bonus episode, and all of our bonus content: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy</a>Matt and Sam welcome their intrepid producer and great friend Jesse Brenneman back to the third mic to talk about HBO's The Righteous Gemstones. In addition to being a wildly entertaining entry to the Danny McBride cinematic and television universe, the show perceptively explores the culture of American megachurch, evangelical Christianity—and offers your hosts plenty of fodder to discuss where faith ends and cynicism begins, the relationship between evangelicalism and consumer capitalism, cheap grace vs. real grace, whether or not people can change, the pathologies of evangelical purity culture, and much more. Plus: Jesse takes us behind the scenes of his brilliant, very funny podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-talk/id1498677455" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tech Talk</a> and its surprising connections to Elon Musk, Eli Gemstone, and others.Sources:John Jeremiah Sullivan, "<a href="https://www.gq.com/story/rock-music-jesus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Upon This Rock</a>," GQ, January 24, 2004Austin Considine, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/14/arts/television/danny-mcbride-the-righteous-gemstones.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Danny McBride Keeps It Righteous</a>," New York Times, June 14, 2023Doreen St. Félix, "<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/01/24/the-lost-sheep-of-danny-mcbrides-the-righteous-gemstones" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Lost Sheep of Danny McBride's The Righteous Gemstones</a>," New Yorker, January 17, 2022Matthew Sitman, "<a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/speaking-new-york" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Speaking of New York: An Interview with Fran Lebowitz</a>," Commonweal, February 7, 2019

TEASER: Sin and Salvation in the Righteous Gemstones (w/ Jesse Brenneman)

After several trying months, Matt and Sam can finally discuss the lawsuit against KYE and Dissent magazine filed by Young Americans Foundation , the successor organization to Young Americans for Freedom. (We prevailed, for now anyway.) Then we turn to three SCOTUS rulings from the end of the session: (1) Biden vs Nebraska  (the student debt ruling); (2) Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (the affirmative action ruling); and (3) 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (the gay wedding website design ruling). Each of these rulings represents a victory for the conservative legal movement, an exercise of raw power by the court, and a blow to dignity and decent policy for millions of Americans. Taken together, they help us understand  the workings of the conservative intellectual pipeline — at law schools, fellowships, and well-endowed non-profits — to change federal policy. How do conservative institutions work together to (in the eyes of the law) turn victims into oppressors and vice versa? Listen to find out. Sources:Jennifer Schuessler, "Conservative Group Withdraws Lawsuit Against Left-Wing Podcast," New York Times, July 12, 2023John A. Andrew III, The Other Side of the Sixties: Young Americans for Freedom and the Rise of Conservative Politics (1997)Sarah Posner, "The Legal Muscle Leading the Fight to End the Separation of Church and State," Washington Spectator, April 1, 2007Emma Brown and Jon Swaine, "Amy Coney Barrett, Supreme Court Nominee, Spoke at Program Founded to Inspire a 'Distinctly Christian Worldview in Every Area of Law,'" Washington Post, September 27, 2020Melissa Gira Grant, "The Mysterious Case of the Fake Gay Marriage Website, the Real Straight Man, and the Supreme Court," New Republic, June 29, 2023Thomas Sowell, "The Day Cornell Died," Weekly Standard, October 30, 1999Katherine Stewart, The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism (2020)...and don't forget to subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon for access to all of our bonus episodes!

After several trying months, Matt and Sam can finally discuss the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/12/arts/know-your-enemy-lawsuit.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">lawsuit against KYE and Dissent</a> magazine filed by Young Americans Foundation , the successor organization to Young Americans for Freedom. (We prevailed, for now anyway.) Then we turn to three SCOTUS rulings from the end of the session: (1) Biden vs Nebraska  (the student debt ruling); (2) Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (the affirmative action ruling); and (3) 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis (the gay wedding website design ruling). Each of these rulings represents a victory for the conservative legal movement, an exercise of raw power by the court, and a blow to dignity and decent policy for millions of Americans. Taken together, they help us understand  the workings of the conservative intellectual pipeline — at law schools, fellowships, and well-endowed non-profits — to change federal policy. How do conservative institutions work together to (in the eyes of the law) turn victims into oppressors and vice versa? Listen to find out. Sources:Jennifer Schuessler, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/12/arts/know-your-enemy-lawsuit.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Conservative Group Withdraws Lawsuit Against Left-Wing Podcast</a>," New York Times, July 12, 2023John A. Andrew III, <a href="https://www.rutgersuniversitypress.org/the-other-side-of-the-sixties/9780813524016" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Other Side of the Sixties: Young Americans for Freedom and the Rise of Conservative Politics</a> (1997)Sarah Posner, "<a href="https://www.typeinvestigations.org/investigation/2007/04/01/the-legal-muscle-leading-the-fight-to-end-the-separation-of-church-and-state/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Legal Muscle Leading the Fight to End the Separation of Church and State</a>," Washington Spectator, April 1, 2007Emma Brown and Jon Swaine, "<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/coney-barrett-christian-law-fellowship-blackstone/2020/09/27/7ae41892-fdc5-11ea-b555-4d71a9254f4b_story.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amy Coney Barrett, Supreme Court Nominee, Spoke at Program Founded to Inspire a 'Distinctly Christian Worldview in Every Area of Law</a>,'" Washington Post, September 27, 2020Melissa Gira Grant, "<a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/173987/mysterious-case-fake-gay-marriage-website-real-straight-man-supreme-court" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Mysterious Case of the Fake Gay Marriage Website, the Real Straight Man, and the Supreme Court</a>," New Republic, June 29, 2023Thomas Sowell, "<a href="https://www.hoover.org/research/day-cornell-died#:~:text=As%20gun%2Dwielding%20black%20students,at%20Cornell%20at%20the%20time." rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Day Cornell Died</a>," Weekly Standard, October 30, 1999Katherine Stewart, <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/power-worshippers-9781635573435/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism</a> (2020)...and don't forget to subscribe to <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Know Your Enemy on Patreon</a> for access to all of our bonus episodes!

Legal Trouble

Janet Malcolm

Patrick Blanchfield

Know Your Enemy presents: an episode of Ordinary Unhappiness — a new podcast about psychoanalysis with hosts Abby Kluchin and Patrick Blanchfield. Their guest? Sam Adler-Bell! In the episode that follows, we talk about how Sam came to study conservative thought from a leftist perspective and what role psychoanalysis plays in that project; discuss the libidinal satisfactions of conservative politics; and speculate about the contemporary absence of sophisticated right-wing psychoanalytic thinkers. Then they turn to a favorite writer, journalist Janet Malcolm, author of Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession and The Journalist and the Murderer. They talk about parallels between the role of the analyst and that of the journalist; interiors and interiority; secrets, thefts, and betrayals; the so-called “Freud wars”; and the internal politics of psychoanalytic institutions. Finally, they examine Malcolm’s famous claim that the task of the journalist is “morally indefensible” and its implications for the work of the analyst. Further reading: Sam Adler-Bell, "Janet Malcolm’s Dangerous Method," The New Republic, Mar 20, 2023Sam Adler-Bell, "Succession's Repetition Compulsion," The Nation,  Nov 10, 2021Hannah Gold, “Analysis Interminable: On Janet Malcolm,” The Nation, June 25, 2021.Janet Malcolm, Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession  (1982)— In The Freud Archives  (1984)— The Journalist and the Murderer  (1990)...and don't forget to subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon for access to all of our bonus episodes! For more  Ordinary Unhappiness:  Linktree: https://linktr.ee/OrdinaryUnhappinessTwitter: @UnhappinessPodInstagram: @OrdinaryUnhappinessPatreon: patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappiness

Know Your Enemy presents: an episode of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ordinary-unhappiness/id1680330412" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ordinary Unhappiness</a> — a new podcast about psychoanalysis with hosts Abby Kluchin and Patrick Blanchfield. Their guest? Sam Adler-Bell! In the episode that follows, we talk about how Sam came to study conservative thought from a leftist perspective and what role psychoanalysis plays in that project; discuss the libidinal satisfactions of conservative politics; and speculate about the contemporary absence of sophisticated right-wing psychoanalytic thinkers. Then they turn to a favorite writer, journalist Janet Malcolm, author of Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession and The Journalist and the Murderer. They talk about parallels between the role of the analyst and that of the journalist; interiors and interiority; secrets, thefts, and betrayals; the so-called “Freud wars”; and the internal politics of psychoanalytic institutions. Finally, they examine Malcolm’s famous claim that the task of the journalist is “morally indefensible” and its implications for the work of the analyst. Further reading: Sam Adler-Bell, "<a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/170930/janet-malcolm-dangerous-method" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Janet Malcolm’s Dangerous Method</a>," The New Republic, Mar 20, 2023Sam Adler-Bell, "<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/succession-season-three/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Succession's Repetition Compulsion</a>," The Nation,  Nov 10, 2021Hannah Gold, <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/janet-malcolm-psychoanalysis/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">“Analysis Interminable: On Janet Malcolm,”</a> The Nation, June 25, 2021.Janet Malcolm, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/psychoanalysis-the-impossible-profession-janet-malcolm/11254231?ean=9780394710341&amp;ref=&amp;source=IndieBound&amp;title=Psychoanalysis%3A+The+Impossible+Profession" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession </a> (1982)— <a href="https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31533034537&amp;searchurl=kn%3Din%2Bthe%2Bfreud%2Barchives%2Bmalcolm%26sortby%3D17&amp;cm_sp=snippet-_-srpgrid1-_-imagegrid1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">In The Freud Archives </a> (1984)— <a href="https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31361373205&amp;searchurl=kn%3Djournalist%2Band%2Bthe%2Bmurderer%2Bmalcolm%26sortby%3D17&amp;cm_sp=snippet-_-srpgrid1-_-imagegrid1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Journalist and the Murderer </a> (1990)...and don't forget to subscribe to <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Know Your Enemy on Patreon</a> for access to all of our bonus episodes! For more  Ordinary Unhappiness:   Linktree: <a href="https://linktr.ee/ordinaryunhappiness" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/OrdinaryUnhappiness</a> Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/unhappinesspod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@UnhappinessPod</a> Instagram: <a href="https://instagram.com/ordinaryunhappiness" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@OrdinaryUnhappiness</a> Patreon: <a href="http://patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappiness" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">patreon.com/OrdinaryUnhappiness</a>

Impossible Professions: Freud and Janet Malcolm (ft. Patrick Blanchfield & Abby Kluchin)

Phil Christman

Subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon to listen to this bonus episode, and all of our bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemyIn this follow-up to "What's Wrong with Men?, Matt and Sam talk with the essayist and critic Phil Christman about his 2018 Hedgehog Review article, "What Is It Like To Be a Man?"—an article that figured prominently in their conversation—as well as two posts responding to the episode published on his always excellent Substack, The Tourist. They discuss how the discourse about men has evolved in recent years, the darker and more deranged consequences of an "abstract rage to protect," some of the ways gender and class might relate to each other, and more about Matt's psyche than you might care to know.Sources:Phil Christman, How To Be Normal (2022)"What Is It Like To Be a Man?" Hedgehog Review, Summer 2018"Guy stuff. Boy time. Brosephery." The Tourist, June 11, 2023"Manfulness. Hot guy stuff. Convening a bro-seph bro-dsky reading group." The Tourist, June 22, 2023Leonard Michaels, The Men’s Club, (1981)Rudyard Kipling, “If—“ (1941)

Subscribe to Know Your Enemy <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on Patreon</a> to listen to this bonus episode, and all of our bonus content: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy</a>In this follow-up to "<a href="https://know-your-enemy-1682b684.simplecast.com/episodes/whats-wrong-with-men" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What's Wrong with Men</a>?, Matt and Sam talk with the essayist and critic Phil Christman about his 2018 Hedgehog Review article, "<a href="https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/identitieswhat-are-they-good-for/articles/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-man" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Is It Like To Be a Man?</a>"—an article that figured prominently in their conversation—as well as two posts responding to the episode published on his always excellent Substack, <a href="https://philipchristman.substack.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Tourist</a>. They discuss how the discourse about men has evolved in recent years, the darker and more deranged consequences of an "abstract rage to protect," some of the ways gender and class might relate to each other, and more about Matt's psyche than you might care to know.Sources:Phil Christman, <a href="https://beltpublishing.com/products/how-to-be-normal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How To Be Normal</a> (2022)"<a href="https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/identitieswhat-are-they-good-for/articles/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-man" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Is It Like To Be a Man?</a>" Hedgehog Review, Summer 2018"<a href="https://philipchristman.substack.com/p/guy-stuff-boy-time-brosephery" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Guy stuff. Boy time. Brosephery.</a>" The Tourist, June 11, 2023"<a href="https://philipchristman.substack.com/p/manfulness-hot-guy-stuff-convening" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Manfulness. Hot guy stuff. Convening a bro-seph bro-dsky reading group.</a>" The Tourist, June 22, 2023Leonard Michaels, <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374208196/themensclub" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Men’s Club</a>, (1981)Rudyard Kipling, “<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46473/if---" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">If—</a>“ (1941)

Grow Up, Men (w/ Phil Christman) [TEASER]

Pat Robertson

Subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon to listen to this bonus episode, and all of our bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemyLast week, televangelist, businessman, conspiracy theorist, and former Republican presidential candidate Pat Robertson died at the age of 93. Though mostly known today for his deranged comments about homosexuality, abortion, feminism, and other "sins" causing everything from natural disasters to 9-11, Robertson had a major influence on the evolution of the Republican Party and the religious right. Where did Robertson come from, and what was distinctive about Robertson's theological and political views? What were the innovations of the Christian Coalition, the group he founded in 1987, in organizing conservative believers for the GOP? How did he respond to the end of the Cold War and adapt his message for the 1990s and the supposed advent of a "New World Order"?In this episode, Matt and Sam take up these questions and more, plus offer a discussion of James G. Watt, Ronald Reagan's first Secretary of the Interior, who died in late May. An evangelical Christian known for railing against the Beach Boys, his offensive comments about Native Americans and others, and using the supposed imminent return of Christ to justify destroying the environment.Sources:Pat Robertson obituaries: NYT, Washington PostJames G. Watt obituaries: NYT, Washington PostDaniel Schlozman, When Movements Anchor Parties: Electoral Alignments in American History (2016)Jacob Heilbrunn, "His Anti-Semitic Sources," New York Review of Books, April 20, 1995Pat Robertson, The New World Order (1991)James Conaway, "James Watt, In the Right with the Lord," Washington Post, April 27, 1983John Taylor "Pat Robertson’s God, Inc." Esquire, Nov 1994.

Subscribe to Know Your Enemy <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on Patreon</a> to listen to this bonus episode, and all of our bonus content: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy</a>Last week, televangelist, businessman, conspiracy theorist, and former Republican presidential candidate Pat Robertson died at the age of 93. Though mostly known today for his deranged comments about homosexuality, abortion, feminism, and other "sins" causing everything from natural disasters to 9-11, Robertson had a major influence on the evolution of the Republican Party and the religious right. Where did Robertson come from, and what was distinctive about Robertson's theological and political views? What were the innovations of the Christian Coalition, the group he founded in 1987, in organizing conservative believers for the GOP? How did he respond to the end of the Cold War and adapt his message for the 1990s and the supposed advent of a "New World Order"?In this episode, Matt and Sam take up these questions and more, plus offer a discussion of James G. Watt, Ronald Reagan's first Secretary of the Interior, who died in late May. An evangelical Christian known for railing against the Beach Boys, his offensive comments about Native Americans and others, and using the supposed imminent return of Christ to justify destroying the environment.Sources:Pat Robertson obituaries: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/us/pat-robertson-dead.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NYT</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/06/08/televangelist-pat-robertson-dies/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>James G. Watt obituaries: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/us/politics/james-watt-dead.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NYT</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2023/06/08/james-watt-interior-secretary-dead/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>Daniel Schlozman, <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691164694/when-movements-anchor-parties" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">When Movements Anchor Parties: Electoral Alignments in American History</a> (2016)Jacob Heilbrunn, "<a href="https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1995/04/20/his-anti-semitic-sources/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">His Anti-Semitic Sources</a>," New York Review of Books, April 20, 1995Pat Robertson, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_World_Order_(Robertson_book)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The New World Order</a> (1991)James Conaway, "<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1983/04/27/james-watt-in-the-right-with-the-lord/946026f4-3b79-4fcb-9a5f-082ca8150007/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">James Watt, In the Right with the Lord</a>," Washington Post, April 27, 1983John Taylor "<a href="https://classic.esquire.com/article/1994/11/1/pat-robertsons-god-inc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pat Robertson’s God, Inc.</a>" Esquire, Nov 1994.

The Prayers and Prophecies of Pat Robertson [TEASER]

"Many men in this country are in crisis, and their ranks are swelling," Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said at the National Conservatism conference in 2021. "And that's not just a crisis for men. It's a crisis for the republic." Some version of this sentiment — that men are in trouble, adrift, or falling behind — is shared by writers and thinkers across the political spectrum. It's nearly impossible to open a magazine without finding an article about the state of manhood in America. Brookings Institution scholar Richard Reeves' 2022 book Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It is a best-seller. Figures like Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate attract huge audiences, serving as reactionary self-help gurus for young people eager to be told what a man is and how he should behave. One doesn't have to accept the right's framing of the problem — nor any kind of gender essentialism — to acknowledge the statistics: boys and men are falling behind in education, in work-force participation, and succumbing to drugs, alcoholism, and suicide. Hawley — apparently having stewed on the topic for two years — has just released a book on "manhood," which advises a revival of biblical virtues to guide the aimless young men of 21st century America. To pair with Hawley, we  read Harvey Mansfield's 2006 book on "manliness." Putting Hawley's evangelical Christian preaching in conversation with Mansfield's Straussian philosophical playfulness proved very constructive. Along the way, we talk about our own relationship to manhood and try to decide which (if any) of the virtues associated with maleness are worth preserving, defending, or even advising young men to embrace. Further reading: Harvey C. Mansfield, Manliness, Yale University Press, 2006.Joshua Hawley, Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs, Regnery, 2023. Joshua Hawley, "America's Epicurean Liberalism," National Affairs, Fall 2010.Becca Rothfeld, "How to be a man? Josh Hawley has the (incoherent) answers," The Washington Post, May 18, 2023.  Phil Christman, "What Is It Like to Be a Man?" Hedgehog Review, Summer 2018.Martin Amis, "Return of the Male," London Review of Books, Dec 5, 1991. Martha Nussbaum, "Man Overboard," New Republic, June 22, 2006. Idrees Kahloon, "What's the Matter With Men?" The New Yorker, Jan 23, 2023.Zoë Heller, "How Toxic Is Masculinity?" The New Yorker, Aug 1, 2022. Lisa Miller, "Tate-Pilled What a generation of boys have found in Andrew Tate’s extreme male gospel." New York Magazine, Mar 14, 2023. 

"Many men in this country are in crisis, and their ranks are swelling," Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said at the National Conservatism conference in 2021. "And that's not just a crisis for men. It's a crisis for the republic." Some version of this sentiment — that men are in trouble, adrift, or falling behind — is shared by writers and thinkers across the political spectrum. It's nearly impossible to open a magazine without finding an article about the state of manhood in America. Brookings Institution scholar Richard Reeves' 2022 book Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It is a best-seller. Figures like Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate attract huge audiences, serving as reactionary self-help gurus for young people eager to be told what a man is and how he should behave. One doesn't have to accept the right's framing of the problem — nor any kind of gender essentialism — to acknowledge the statistics: boys and men are falling behind in education, in work-force participation, and succumbing to drugs, alcoholism, and suicide. Hawley — apparently having stewed on the topic for two years — has just released a book on "manhood," which advises a revival of biblical virtues to guide the aimless young men of 21st century America. To pair with Hawley, we  read Harvey Mansfield's 2006 book on "manliness." Putting Hawley's evangelical Christian preaching in conversation with Mansfield's Straussian philosophical playfulness proved very constructive. Along the way, we talk about our own relationship to manhood and try to decide which (if any) of the virtues associated with maleness are worth preserving, defending, or even advising young men to embrace. Further reading: Harvey C. Mansfield, <a href="https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300122541/manliness/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Manliness</a>, Yale University Press, 2006.Joshua Hawley, <a href="https://www.regnery.com/9781684513574/manhood/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs</a>, Regnery, 2023. Joshua Hawley, "<a href="https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/americas-epicurean-liberalism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">America's Epicurean Liberalism</a>," National Affairs, Fall 2010.Becca Rothfeld, "<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/05/18/manhood-josh-hawley-review/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to be a man? Josh Hawley has the (incoherent) answers</a>," The Washington Post, May 18, 2023.  Phil Christman, "<a href="https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/identitieswhat-are-they-good-for/articles/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-man" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Is It Like to Be a Man</a>?" Hedgehog Review, Summer 2018.Martin Amis, "<a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v13/n23/martin-amis/return-of-the-male" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Return of the Male</a>," London Review of Books, Dec 5, 1991. Martha Nussbaum, "<a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/64199/man-overboard" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Man Overboard</a>," New Republic, June 22, 2006. Idrees Kahloon, "<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/01/30/whats-the-matter-with-men" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What's the Matter With Men?</a>" The New Yorker, Jan 23, 2023.Zoë Heller, "<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/08/08/how-toxic-is-masculinity" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How Toxic Is Masculinity?</a>" The New Yorker, Aug 1, 2022. Lisa Miller, "<a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/andrew-tate-jail-investigation.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tate-Pilled What a generation of boys have found in Andrew Tate’s extreme male gospel.</a>" New York Magazine, Mar 14, 2023.

What's Wrong With Men?

Subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon to listen to this bonus episode, and all of our bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemyMatt and Sam take the pulse of the 2024 presidential race: Is DeSantis already doomed? Does Trump still have the juice? Can Biden handle a full campaign schedule? And how do you solve a problem like Kamala?The answers to these questions and more! Enjoy some rank punditry!SourcesNate Cohn, "Why Ron DeSantis Is Struggling," New York Times, May 5, 2023Shane Goldmacher, Maggie Haberman &amp; Jonathan Swan, "Why Ron DeSantis Is Limping to the Starting Line," New York Times, May 13, 2023Reid J. Epstein &amp; Shane Goldmacher, "Biden’s Slow Start Worries Democrats. Aides Insist All Is Well," New York Times, May 14, 2023Sam Adler-Bell, "The One Thing Trump Has That DeSantis Never Will," New York Times, Apr 10, 2023Matthew Sitman, "The 'Weekend at Bernie’s' Primary," Commonweal, Mar 3, 2020.

Subscribe to Know Your Enemy <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on Patreon</a> to listen to this bonus episode, and all of our bonus content: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy</a>Matt and Sam take the pulse of the 2024 presidential race: Is DeSantis already doomed? Does Trump still have the juice? Can Biden handle a full campaign schedule? And how do you solve a problem like Kamala?The answers to these questions and more! Enjoy some rank punditry!SourcesNate Cohn, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/05/upshot/ron-desantis-trump-republicans.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why Ron DeSantis Is Struggling</a>," New York Times, May 5, 2023Shane Goldmacher, Maggie Haberman &amp; Jonathan Swan, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/13/us/politics/desantis-trump-2024.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why Ron DeSantis Is Limping to the Starting Line</a>," New York Times, May 13, 2023Reid J. Epstein &amp; Shane Goldmacher, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/10/us/politics/biden-2024-campaign.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Biden’s Slow Start Worries Democrats. Aides Insist All Is Well</a>," New York Times, May 14, 2023Sam Adler-Bell, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/10/opinion/trump-feud-ron-desantis.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The One Thing Trump Has That DeSantis Never Will</a>," New York Times, Apr 10, 2023Matthew Sitman, "<a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/weekend-bernies-primary" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The 'Weekend at Bernie’s' Primary</a>," Commonweal, Mar 3, 2020.

The 2024 Race: "It's Showtime, Folks!"  (TEASER)

Dorothy Fortenberry

With the Writers Guild of America strike underway, the plight of television writers—especially their treatment in the age of streaming and artificial intelligence—is garnering new, and overdue, attention. Matt and Sam are joined by two friends of the podcast, Will Arbery and Dorothy Fortenberry, who write for major television shows: Will is a writer for HBO's Succession, and Dorothy for Apple TV+'s Extrapolations. They discuss how they write about political topics and themes, such as rightwing political candidates or the effects of climate change, in these fraught times, when the demands of good art can seem in tension with a simplistic and moralistic culture. Also discussed: parents, children, and families, now and in the coming climate crisis; how and whether people can change; and, of course, the WGA strike and why it matters.Sources Cited:Michael Schulman, "Why Are TV Writers So Miserable," The New Yorker, Apr 29, 2023Alex Press, "TV Writers Say They’re Striking to Stop the Destruction of Their Profession," Jacobin, May 3, 2023.Sam Adler-Bell, "Succession's Repetition Compulsion," The Nation, Nov 10, 2021.Pope Francis, Laudato si’ (“On Care for Our Common Home”), May 2015Listen to previous Know Your Enemy episodes with these guests:"We Can Be Heroes" (w/ Will Arbery), November 11, 2019"Suburban Woman" (w/ Dorothy Fortenberry), October 29, 2020"Living at the End of Our World" (w/ Daniel Sherrell &amp; Dorothy Fortenberry), September 2, 2021...and don't forget to subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon for access to all of our bonus episodes!

With the Writers Guild of America strike underway, the plight of television writers—especially their treatment in the age of streaming and artificial intelligence—is garnering new, and overdue, attention. Matt and Sam are joined by two friends of the podcast, Will Arbery and Dorothy Fortenberry, who write for major television shows: Will is a writer for HBO's <a href="https://www.hbo.com/succession" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Succession</a>, and Dorothy for Apple TV+'s <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13821126/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Extrapolations</a>. They discuss how they write about political topics and themes, such as rightwing political candidates or the effects of climate change, in these fraught times, when the demands of good art can seem in tension with a simplistic and moralistic culture. Also discussed: parents, children, and families, now and in the coming climate crisis; how and whether people can change; and, of course, the WGA strike and why it matters.Sources Cited:Michael Schulman, "<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/notes-on-hollywood/why-are-tv-writers-so-miserable" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why Are TV Writers So Miserable</a>," The New Yorker, Apr 29, 2023Alex Press, "<a href="https://jacobin.com/2023/05/writers-strike-wga-amptp-streaming-pay" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TV Writers Say They’re Striking to Stop the Destruction of Their Profession</a>," Jacobin, May 3, 2023.Sam Adler-Bell, "<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/succession-season-three/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Succession's Repetition Compulsion</a>," The Nation, Nov 10, 2021.Pope Francis, <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Laudato si’</a> (“On Care for Our Common Home”), May 2015Listen to previous Know Your Enemy episodes with these guests:"<a href="https://know-your-enemy-1682b684.simplecast.com/episodes/we-could-be-heroes-w-will-arbery" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We Can Be Heroes</a>" (w/ Will Arbery), November 11, 2019"<a href="https://know-your-enemy-1682b684.simplecast.com/episodes/suburban-woman-w-dorothy-fortenberry" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Suburban Woman</a>" (w/ Dorothy Fortenberry), October 29, 2020"<a href="https://know-your-enemy-1682b684.simplecast.com/episodes/warmth-w-dan-sherrell-dorothy-fortenberry" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Living at the End of Our World</a>" (w/ Daniel Sherrell &amp; Dorothy Fortenberry), September 2, 2021...and don't forget to subscribe to <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Know Your Enemy on Patreon</a> for access to all of our bonus episodes!

"Succession," "Extrapolations," and TV Writing Today (w/ Dorothy Fortenberry and Will Arbery)

A leftist's guide to the conservative movement, one podcast episode at a time, with co-hosts Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell.

“The most intellectually rigorous podcast on the left” -Bill Buckley

Innovators

This podcast is answering so many questions I’ve wondered about for a long time.

Excellent

Know Your Enemy

Sarah Jones

Sarah Jones joins Matt and Sam to discuss the myth of "Trump Country" and the pitfalls of reporting on rural America, and to address the most important question of all: is Donald Trump the Antichrist? (Answer: Probably not.) Sarah's essay, "Scapegoat Country," appears in this month's special issue of Dissent on "Left Paths in Rural America."Sarah is a staff writer for New York Magazine, where she covers inequality and national politics. Follow her on Twitter: @OneSarahJonesSources Cited:Sarah Jones, "Scapegoat Country," Dissent, Fall 2019Sarah Jones, "What Brett Kavanaugh Means to Conservatives," New York Mag, Sept 30, 2019Sarah Jones, "Here’s How We’d Really Know That Trump Is the Antichrist," New York Mag, Aug 21, 2019Mollie Hemingway, "I wasn’t a Trump supporter. I am now." Washington Post, Jan 19, 2018

Sarah Jones joins Matt and Sam to discuss the myth of "Trump Country" and the pitfalls of reporting on rural America, and to address the most important question of all: is Donald Trump the Antichrist? (Answer: Probably not.) Sarah's essay, "Scapegoat Country," appears in this month's special issue of Dissent on "<a href="https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/rural-america-reimagined" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Left Paths in Rural America</a>."Sarah is a <a href="http://nymag.com/author/sarah-jones/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">staff writer</a> for New York Magazine, where she covers inequality and national politics. Follow her on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/onesarahjones" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@OneSarahJones</a>Sources Cited:<ul><li>Sarah Jones, "<a href="https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/scapegoat-country" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Scapegoat Country,</a>" Dissent, Fall 2019</li><li>Sarah Jones, "<a href="http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/09/a-new-book-defends-brett-kavanaugh-by-indicting-the-press.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Brett Kavanaugh Means to Conservatives</a>," New York Mag, Sept 30, 2019</li><li>Sarah Jones, "<a href="http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/08/heres-how-wed-really-know-that-trump-is-the-antichrist.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Here’s How We’d Really Know That Trump Is the Antichrist,</a>" New York Mag, Aug 21, 2019</li><li>Mollie Hemingway, "<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/i-wasnt-a-trump-supporter-i-am-now/2018/01/19/58abd43a-fca2-11e7-a46b-a3614530bd87_story.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I wasn’t a Trump supporter. I am now.</a>" Washington Post, Jan 19, 2018</li></ul>

Trump Country (w/ Sarah Jones)

Rebecca Traister

Matt and Sam talk to Rebecca Traister of New York magazine about sexism and electoral politics. How has patriarchy conditioned the political careers of politicians like Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren? How does the right mobilize anti-feminism to win? And how do conservative women like Sarah Palin use traditional womanhood and femininity to their advantage? Listen to find out! Traister is the author of Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger.Further Reading:Rebecca Traister, "Elizabeth Warren's Classroom Strategy," The Cut, Aug 6, 2019Rebecca Traister, "Leader of the Persistence," New York Magazine, July 23, 2019Elaine Blaire, "The Power of Enraged Women," New York Times, Sept 27, 2018Liesl Schillinger "Book Review: Big Girls Don't Cry," New York Times, Sept 16, 2010

Matt and Sam talk to Rebecca Traister of New York magazine about sexism and electoral politics. How has patriarchy conditioned the political careers of politicians like Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren? How does the right mobilize anti-feminism to win? And how do conservative women like Sarah Palin use traditional womanhood and femininity to their advantage? Listen to find out! Traister is the author of <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Good-and-Mad/Rebecca-Traister/9781501181818" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger.</a>Further Reading:Rebecca Traister, "<a href="https://www.thecut.com/2019/08/elizabeth-warren-teacher-presidential-candidate.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elizabeth Warren's Classroom Strategy,</a>" The Cut, Aug 6, 2019Rebecca Traister, "<a href="http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/07/elizabeth-warren-fight-to-defeat-trump.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Leader of the Persistence</a>," New York Magazine, July 23, 2019Elaine Blaire, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/books/review/rebecca-traister-good-and-mad-soraya-chemaly-rage-becomes-her.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Power of Enraged Women</a>," New York Times, Sept 27, 2018Liesl Schillinger "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/books/review/Schillinger-t.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Book Review: Big Girls Don't Cry</a>," New York Times, Sept 16, 2010

She's Got a Plan (w/ Rebecca Traister)

Sam Tanenhaus's original 2009 essay in The New Republic, the basis for the book we're discussing today: https://newrepublic.com/article/61721/conservatism-dead Whitaker Chambers's 1957 dismantling of Ayn Rand in the pages of National Review: https://www.nationalreview.com/2005/01/big-sister-watching-you-whittaker-chambers/ And here's Buckley's 1955 mission statement for National Review: https://www.nationalreview.com/1955/11/our-mission-statement-william-f-buckley-jr/

Sam Tanenhaus's original 2009 essay in The New Republic, the basis for the book we're discussing today: <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/61721/conservatism-dead" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://newrepublic.com/article/61721/conservatism-dead</a> Whitaker Chambers's 1957 dismantling of Ayn Rand in the pages of National Review: <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2005/01/big-sister-watching-you-whittaker-chambers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.nationalreview.com/2005/01/big-sister-watching-you-whittaker-chambers/</a> And here's Buckley's 1955 mission statement for National Review: <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/1955/11/our-mission-statement-william-f-buckley-jr/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.nationalreview.com/1955/11/our-mission-statement-william-f-buckley-jr/</a>

The Death of Conservatism? (Part 1)

Interested in the background reading we did for this episode? There's a lot of it. But we want to show our work and give you the chance to dig deeper. Below are the articles we referenced, read, or drew upon for our conversation on the illiberal right. Primary Sources: Against the Dead Consensus, First Things Sohrab Ahmari, Against David French-ism, First Things David French, What Sohrab Ahmari Gets Wrong, National Review R.R. Reno, What Liberalism Lacks, First Things Romanus Cessario, O.P., Non Possumus, First Things Edmund Waldstein, O. Cist., Integralism in Three Sentences, The Josias Ross Douthat, What are Conservatives Actually Debating?, New York Times Rod Dreher, The Meaning of the Benedict Option, The American Conservative Adrian Vermeule, Integration from Within, American Affairs Adrian Vermeule, A Christian Strategy, First Things Commentary: Matthew Sitman, Liberalism and the Catholic Left (a review of Patrick Deneen's Why Liberalism Failed), Commonweal Emma Green, Imagining Post-Trump Nationalism, The Atlantic Jane Coaston, David French vs. Sohrab Ahmari, Explained, Vox Damon Linker, How the Intellectual Right is Talking Itself into Tearing Down American Democracy, The Week Sam Adler-Bell, With Census Decision, Trump's GOP Falters in March to White Minority Rule, The Intercept Isaac Chotiner, Interview with Ross Douthat on the Crisis of the Conservative Coalition, New Yorker Eric Levitz, Oregon Republicans Flee State to Block Action on Climate Change, New York Patricia Mazzei, Florida Limits Ex-Felon Voting, Prompting a Lawsuit and Cries of ‘Poll Tax’, New York Times Adam Liptak, Supreme Court Bars Challenges to Partisan Gerrymandering, New York Times

Interested in the background reading we did for this episode? There's a lot of it. But we want to show our work and give you the chance to dig deeper. Below are the articles we referenced, read, or drew upon for our conversation on the illiberal right. Primary Sources: <a href="https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/03/against-the-dead-consensus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Against the Dead Consensus</a>, First Things Sohrab Ahmari, <a href="https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/05/against-david-french-ism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Against David French-ism</a>, First Things David French, <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/05/david-french-response-sohrab-ahmari/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Sohrab Ahmari Gets Wrong</a>, National Review R.R. Reno, <a href="https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/05/what-liberalism-lacks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Liberalism Lacks</a>, First Things Romanus Cessario, O.P., <a href="https://www.firstthings.com/article/2018/02/non-possumus" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Non Possumus</a>, First Things Edmund Waldstein, O. Cist., <a href="https://thejosias.com/2016/10/17/integralism-in-three-sentences/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Integralism in Three Sentences</a>, The Josias Ross Douthat, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/opinion/conservatives-david-french-trump.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What are Conservatives Actually Debating?</a>, New York Times Rod Dreher, <a href="https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/meaning-of-the-benedict-option/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Meaning of the Benedict Option</a>, The American Conservative Adrian Vermeule, <a href="https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2018/02/integration-from-within/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Integration from Within</a>, American Affairs Adrian Vermeule, <a href="https://www.firstthings.com/article/2017/11/a-christian-strategy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Christian Strategy</a>, First Things Commentary: Matthew Sitman, <a href="https://www.firstthings.com/article/2017/11/a-christian-strategy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Liberalism and the Catholic Left</a> (a review of Patrick Deneen's Why Liberalism Failed), Commonweal Emma Green, <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/06/first-things-nationalism-trump/592996/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Imagining Post-Trump Nationalism</a>, The Atlantic Jane Coaston, <a href="https://www.vox.com/2019/6/5/18637391/david-french-sohrab-ahmari-conservatism-libertarians-divide" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David French vs. Sohrab Ahmari, Explained</a>, Vox Damon Linker, <a href="https://theweek.com/articles/844957/how-intellectual-right-talking-itself-into-tearing-down-american-democracy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How the Intellectual Right is Talking Itself into Tearing Down American Democracy</a>, The Week Sam Adler-Bell, <a href="https://theintercept.com/2019/06/27/census-citizenship-question-supreme-court/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">With Census Decision, Trump's GOP Falters in March to White Minority Rule</a>, The Intercept Isaac Chotiner, <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/ross-douthat-describes-the-crisis-of-the-conservative-coalition" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Interview with Ross Douthat on the Crisis of the Conservative Coalition</a>, New Yorker Eric Levitz, <a href="http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/06/oregon-republicans-flee-state-to-block-cap-and-trade-bill.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oregon Republicans Flee State to Block Action on Climate Change</a>, New York Patricia Mazzei, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/28/us/florida-felons-voting-rights.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Florida Limits Ex-Felon Voting, Prompting a Lawsuit and Cries of ‘Poll Tax’</a>, New York Times Adam Liptak, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/27/us/politics/supreme-court-gerrymandering.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Supreme Court Bars Challenges to Partisan Gerrymandering</a>, New York Times

The Rise of the Illiberal Right

Will Arbery's play "Heroes of the Fourth Turning"—about four conservative Catholic friends arguing under a night sky in Wyoming—feels like it was written to be discussed on Know Your Enemy. An ominous meditation on faith, conservatism, empathy, cruelty, and power, "Heroes" has ignited debate and garnered praise across the political spectrum—from First Things to the (failing) New York Times to Rod Dreher's blog at the American Conservative. Arbery was raised by conservative Catholic professors and grew up imbibing the ideas of the right and the teachings of the Church. He writes from a place of deep love and withering scrutiny. Lucky for us (and you!) Will displays all the sensitivity, intellectually curiosity, and love in this conversation that he does in his remarkable play. Enjoy!You can buy tickets to see "Heroes" here, which is playing in NYC until November 17. Watch a preview here.Further Reading:The New York Times profile of Will, "A Play about God and Trump, from a Writer Raised on the Right"Vinson Cunningham, "A Play About the Nuances of Conservatism in the Trump Era," The New Yorker, October 14, 2019B.D. McClay, "Heroes of the Fourth Turning’ is a haunted play about religious conservatives," The Outline, November 5, 2019Rod Dreher, "Will Arbery’s Heroes," The American Conservative, October 2, 2019C.C. Pecknold, "An extraordinary play that challenges progressives and conservatives alike," Catholic Herald, October 1, 2019

Will Arbery's play "Heroes of the Fourth Turning"—about four conservative Catholic friends arguing under a night sky in Wyoming—feels like it was written to be discussed on Know Your Enemy. An ominous meditation on faith, conservatism, empathy, cruelty, and power, "Heroes" has ignited debate and garnered praise across the political spectrum—from First Things to the (failing) New York Times to Rod Dreher's blog at the American Conservative. Arbery was raised by conservative Catholic professors and grew up imbibing the ideas of the right and the teachings of the Church. He writes from a place of deep love and withering scrutiny. Lucky for us (and you!) Will displays all the sensitivity, intellectually curiosity, and love in this conversation that he does in his remarkable play. Enjoy!You can <a href="https://www.playwrightshorizons.org/shows/plays/heroes-fourth-turning/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">buy tickets</a> to see "Heroes" here, which is playing in NYC until November 17. Watch a preview <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO3Bn_PNQPc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.Further Reading:The New York Times profile of Will, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/13/theater/heroes-of-the-fourth-turning-will-arbery.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Play about God and Trump, from a Writer Raised on the Right</a>"Vinson Cunningham, "<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/10/21/a-play-about-the-nuances-of-conservatism-in-the-trump-era" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Play About the Nuances of Conservatism in the Trump Era</a>," The New Yorker, October 14, 2019B.D. McClay, "<a href="https://theoutline.com/post/8189/heroes-of-the-fourth-turning-review?zd=1&amp;zi=pyphyhqd" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Heroes of the Fourth Turning’ is a haunted play about religious conservatives</a>," The Outline, November 5, 2019Rod Dreher, "<a href="https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/will-arbery-heroes-of-the-fourth-turning/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Will Arbery’s Heroes</a>," The American Conservative, October 2, 2019C.C. Pecknold, "<a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2019/10/01/an-extraordinary-play-that-challenges-progressives-and-conservatives-alike/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">An extraordinary play that challenges progressives and conservatives alike</a>," Catholic Herald, October 1, 2019

We Could Be Heroes (w/ Will Arbery)

The first National Conservatism conference was convened at the Ritz Carlton in Washington D.C. two weeks ago. It was a coming out party for the rising nationalist wing of the conservative movement, with attendees laying the groundwork for a more intellectual version of Trumpism. Many mainstream conservatives were in attendance, along with paleoconservatives, figures from the religious right, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, and a popular Fox News host. In the era of Trump, mainstream conservatism is making room for hardcore nationalists, economic populists, illiberal theocrats, and others—this conference was a chance for them to find common ground. Matt and Sam discuss the conference, what it means for the present and future of conservative politics, and how the left can combat the nationalists' appeal—which is, in many ways, much more powerful than that of the dying Reaganite consensus. Here's what we read and watched:  Video and text of Senator Josh Hawley's speech Alexander Zaitchick's profile of Hawley in the New Republic. National Conservatism 2019 YouTube channel (videos of many but not all speeches) Zach Beauchamp's original write-up at Vox. NYT's write-up. Osita Nwanevu (New Yorker), Conservative Nationalism is Trumpism for Intellectuals Jacob Heilbrunn (NYRB), National Conservatism: Retrofitting Trump’s GOP with a Veneer of Ideas Daniel McCarthy's (TORY ANARCHIST) take. Damon Linker's contrarian take. David Walsh's take on the conference and fascism Douthat's NYT column. Daniel Luban's profile in the New Republic of Yoram Hazony. Criticism from the right: The Federalist and Jacobite takes.

The first National Conservatism conference was convened at the Ritz Carlton in Washington D.C. two weeks ago. It was a coming out party for the rising nationalist wing of the conservative movement, with attendees laying the groundwork for a more intellectual version of Trumpism. Many mainstream conservatives were in attendance, along with paleoconservatives, figures from the religious right, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, and a popular Fox News host. In the era of Trump, mainstream conservatism is making room for hardcore nationalists, economic populists, illiberal theocrats, and others—this conference was a chance for them to find common ground. Matt and Sam discuss the conference, what it means for the present and future of conservative politics, and how the left can combat the nationalists' appeal—which is, in many ways, much more powerful than that of the dying Reaganite consensus. Here's what we read and watched: <ul> <li>Video and text of Senator Josh Hawley's <a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/senator-josh-hawleys-speech-national-conservatism-conference" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speech</a></li> <li>Alexander Zaitchick's <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/154526/josh-hawley-real" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">profile</a> of Hawley in the New Republic.</li> <li>National Conservatism 2019 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTFA0FGIf6R1f_inJm9NJhA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> (videos of many but not all speeches)</li> <li>Zach Beauchamp's <a href="https://www.vox.com/2019/7/17/20696543/national-conservatism-conference-2019-trump" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">original</a> write-up at Vox.</li> <li>NYT's <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/19/arts/trump-nationalism-tucker-carlson.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">write-up</a>.</li> <li>Osita Nwanevu (New Yorker), <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/conservative-nationalism-is-trumpism-for-intellectuals" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Conservative Nationalism is Trumpism for Intellectuals</a></li> <li>Jacob Heilbrunn (NYRB), <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/conservative-nationalism-is-trumpism-for-intellectuals" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">National Conservatism: Retrofitting Trump’s GOP with a Veneer of Ideas</a></li> <li>Daniel McCarthy's (TORY ANARCHIST) <a href="https://spectator.us/nationalist-surprise/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">take</a>.</li> <li>Damon Linker's contrarian <a href="https://theweek.com/articles/854135/republicans-are-becoming-more-like-democrats-why-are-democrats-upset" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">take</a>.</li> <li>David Walsh's <a href="https://jewishcurrents.org/flirting-with-fascism/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">take</a> on the conference and fascism</li> <li>Douthat's NYT <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/opinion/trump-thiel-nationalism.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">column</a>.</li> <li>Daniel Luban's <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/154531/man-behind-national-conservatism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">profile in the New Republic</a> of Yoram Hazony.</li> <li>Criticism from the right: The <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2019/07/22/not-national-conservatism-weve-looking/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Federalist</a> and <a href="https://jacobitemag.com/2019/07/09/nationalism-qua-nationalism/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jacobite</a> takes.</li></ul>

The Definitely-Not-Racist National Conservatives

Matt and Sam talk to Max Alvarez—writer, editor, and host of Working People, an excellent podcast—about growing up working-class and conservative in a mixed race household.Matt and Max compare experiences as we try to answer some basic but tough questions: what attracts some members of the working class to conservative politics? How do the cultural and economic aspects of conservatism interact for working class conservatives? And what can the left learn from working-class conservatism's appeal?Support Max's Patreon here!Further Reading:Max Alvarez, "Can the Working Class Speak?" Current Affairs (2018)Stuart Hall "The Toad in the Garden: Thatcherism Among the Theorists," (1988)Charlie Post's two-part essay from the early aughts in Against the Current (and Sebastian Lamb's response)Bethany Moreton, To Serve God and WalmartThomas Frank, What's the Matter with Kansas? (2005)Larry Bartels' review of Frank.John Jost, "Working Class Conservatism: A System Justification Perspective," (2017)Oh and please support our Patreon!

Matt and Sam talk to Max Alvarez—writer, editor, and host of <a href="http://workingpeople.libsyn.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Working People</a>, an excellent podcast—about growing up working-class and conservative in a mixed race household.Matt and Max compare experiences as we try to answer some basic but tough questions: what attracts some members of the working class to conservative politics? How do the cultural and economic aspects of conservatism interact for working class conservatives? And what can the left learn from working-class conservatism's appeal?Support Max's Patreon <a href="https://www.patreon.com/WorkingPeople/posts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>!Further Reading:<ul><li>Max Alvarez, "<a href="https://www.currentaffairs.org/2018/12/can-the-working-class-speak" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Can the Working Class Speak?</a>" Current Affairs (2018)</li><li>Stuart Hall "<a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/arena-attachments/86055/07a399476f5182e1018d685782468204.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Toad in the Garden: Thatcherism Among the Theorists,</a>" (1988)</li><li>Charlie Post's <a href="https://solidarity-us.org/atc/123/p128/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">two-part essay</a> from the early aughts in Against the Current (and <a href="https://solidarity-us.org/atc/126/p349/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sebastian Lamb's response</a>)</li><li>Bethany Moreton, <a href="https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674057401" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">To Serve God and Walmart</a></li><li>Thomas Frank, <a href="https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780805077742" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What's the Matter with Kansas? </a>(2005)</li><li>Larry Bartels' <a href="http://cpi.stanford.edu/_media/pdf/Reference%20Media/Bartels_2006_Social%20Class%20and%20Occupations.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">review</a> of Frank.</li><li>John Jost, "<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28843724" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Working Class Conservatism: A System Justification Perspective,</a>" (2017)</li></ul>Oh and please support our <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon!</a>

Working-Class Conservatism (w/ Max Alvarez)

Special thanks to Will Epstein and The Downtown Boys for providing music for these two episodes. Check them out. Ronald Reagan's televised "A Time for Choosing" speech in support of Barry Goldwater in 1964: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXBswFfh6AY A choice excerpt: "Those who ask us to trade our freedom for the soup kitchen of the welfare state are architects of a policy of accommodation. They tell us that by avoiding a direct confrontation with the enemy he will learn to love us and give up his evil ways. All who oppose this idea are blanket indicted as war-mongers. Well, let us set one thing straight, there is no argument with regard to peace and war. It is cheap demagoguery to suggest that anyone would want to send other people’s sons to war. The only argument is with regard to the best way to avoid war. There is only one sure way—surrender."

Special thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/willepstein?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Will Epstein</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/DowntownBoys?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Downtown Boys</a> for providing music for these two episodes. Check them out. Ronald Reagan's televised "A Time for Choosing" speech in support of Barry Goldwater in 1964: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXBswFfh6AY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXBswFfh6AY</a> A choice excerpt: "Those who ask us to trade our freedom for the soup kitchen of the welfare state are architects of a policy of accommodation. They tell us that by avoiding a direct confrontation with the enemy he will learn to love us and give up his evil ways. All who oppose this idea are blanket indicted as war-mongers. Well, let us set one thing straight, there is no argument with regard to peace and war. It is cheap demagoguery to suggest that anyone would want to send other people’s sons to war. The only argument is with regard to the best way to avoid war. There is only one sure way—surrender."

The Death of Conservatism? (Part 2)

Hannah Gais

UNPAYWALLED:Sam interviews journalist Hannah Gais about (1) the far right's ongoing efforts to infiltrate conservative media and (2) the self-victimizing grift of Quillette anti-anti-fascist Andy Ngo.Discussed:Hannah Gais, Leaked Emails Show How White Nationalists Have Infiltrated Conservative Media, SplinterHannah Gais, The Making of Andy Ngo, Jewish Currents

UNPAYWALLED:Sam interviews journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/hannahgais" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hannah Gais</a> about (1) the far right's ongoing efforts to infiltrate conservative media and (2) the self-victimizing grift of Quillette anti-anti-fascist Andy Ngo.Discussed:<ul><li>Hannah Gais, <a href="https://splinternews.com/leaked-emails-show-how-white-nationalists-have-infiltra-1837681245" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Leaked Emails Show How White Nationalists Have Infiltrated Conservative Media</a>, Splinter</li><li>Hannah Gais, <a href="https://jewishcurrents.org/the-making-of-andy-ngo/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Making of Andy Ngo</a>, Jewish Currents</li></ul>

KYE EXTRA: "Morning Hate" (w/ Hannah Gais)

Matt and Sam's first ever guest, Patrick Blanchfield, is an Associate Faculty member at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research and author of the forthcoming book Gunpower from Verso books, which you can and should pre-order here.  In the wake of the massacres in El Paso and Dayton, we turn to Patrick—a truly brillant writer and thinker—to help us understand how these traumatic reptitions of spectacular violence are rooted in American history and ideology. Patrick's work:  "The Market Can't Solve a Massacre" (Splinter) "Recoil Operation" (New Inquiry) "Ghosts of 2012" (N+1) "The Gun Control We Deserve" (N+1) "Thoughts and Prayers" (N+1) "'They're Coming for the Ones You Love': My Weekend of Gun Training in the Desert" (The Nation) Declaration of War: The Violent Rise of White Supremacy after Vietnam (The Nation)  Other sources cited:  Evan Simko-Badnarski, Condition Yellow (Images from Patrick and Evan's trip to a firearms training institute in Nye County, Nevada) Thomas Meaney "White Power," London Review of Books Adam Kotkso, Neoliberalism's Demons: On the Political Theology of Late Capitalism Jonathan M. Metzl, Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America's Heartland Toni Morrison, Nobel Lecture (1993) Okkervil River "Westfall" Kathleen Belew, Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America Benjamin Madley, American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873  PS If you haven't already, please subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon! For $5/month, you get additional episodes and other subscriber-only content. For $10/month you get the bonus content + a digital subscription to Dissent magazine!

Matt and Sam's first ever guest, Patrick Blanchfield, is an Associate Faculty member at the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research and author of the forthcoming book <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/books/3063-gunpower" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gunpower</a> from Verso books, which you can and should pre-order <a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781788736671" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. In the wake of the massacres in El Paso and Dayton, we turn to Patrick—a truly brillant writer and thinker—to help us understand how these traumatic reptitions of spectacular violence are rooted in American history and ideology. Patrick's work: <ul> <li>"The Market Can't Solve a Massacre" (<a href="https://splinternews.com/the-market-cant-solve-a-massacre-1823745509" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Splinter</a>)</li> <li>"Recoil Operation" (<a href="https://thenewinquiry.com/recoil-operation/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New Inquiry</a>)</li> <li>"Ghosts of 2012" (<a href="https://nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/ghosts-of-2012/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">N+1</a>)</li> <li>"The Gun Control We Deserve" (<a href="https://nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/the-gun-control-we-deserve/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">N+1</a>)</li> <li>"Thoughts and Prayers" (<a href="https://nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/thoughts-and-prayers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">N+1</a>)</li> <li>"'They're Coming for the Ones You Love': My Weekend of Gun Training in the Desert" (<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/theyre-coming-for-the-ones-you-love-my-weekend-of-gun-training-in-the-desert/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Nation</a>)</li> <li>Declaration of War: The Violent Rise of White Supremacy after Vietnam (<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/declaration-of-war/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Nation</a>)</li> </ul> Other sources cited: <ul> <li>Evan Simko-Badnarski, <a href="http://www.simkobednarskiphoto.com/condition-yellow#0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Condition Yellow</a> (Images from Patrick and Evan's trip to a firearms training institute in Nye County, Nevada)</li> <li>Thomas Meaney "<a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/v41/n15/thomas-meaney/white-power" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">White Power</a>," London Review of Books</li> <li>Adam Kotkso, <a href="https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=29538" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Neoliberalism's Demons: On the Political Theology of Late Capitalism</a></li> <li>Jonathan M. Metzl, <a href="https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/jonathan-m-metzl/dying-of-whiteness/9781541644984/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America's Heartland</a></li> <li>Toni Morrison, <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1993/morrison/lecture/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nobel Lecture</a> (1993)</li> <li>Okkervil River "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq5drkKBz3k" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Westfall</a>"</li> <li>Kathleen Belew, <a href="https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674237698" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America</a></li> <li>Benjamin Madley, <a href="https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300181364/american-genocide" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873</a></li> </ul> PS If you haven't already, please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">subscribe</a> to Know Your Enemy on Patreon! For $5/month, you get additional episodes and other subscriber-only content. For $10/month you get the bonus content + a digital subscription to Dissent magazine!

Gunpower (w/ Patrick Blanchfield)

With the help of Jane Mayer's essential 2016 book, Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, your hosts explore the world of right-wing philanthropy and the institutions—from centers at universities to think tanks in Washington, DC—it has funded. What emerges is a startling history of how a small group of incredibly rich families used novel techniques to shelter their wealth from taxation and fund a right-wing takeover of American politics. Other sources cited and consulted:  Theda Skocpol, "Who Owns the GOP?" (a critical review of Mayer in Dissent) Theda Skocpol and Vanessa Williamson, The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism Amanda Hollis-Brusky and Calvin Terbeek, "The Federalist Society Says It’s Not an Advocacy Organization. These Documents Show Otherwise." Politico Mark Schmidt "The Legend of the Powell Memo," The American Prospect Honoré de Balzac, Eugénie Grandet  (1833)

With the help of Jane Mayer's essential 2016 book, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/215462/dark-money-by-jane-mayer/9780307947901/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right</a>, your hosts explore the world of right-wing philanthropy and the institutions—from centers at universities to think tanks in Washington, DC—it has funded. What emerges is a startling history of how a small group of incredibly rich families used novel techniques to shelter their wealth from taxation and fund a right-wing takeover of American politics. Other sources cited and consulted: <ul> <li>Theda Skocpol, "<a href="https://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/jane-mayer-dark-money-review-koch-brothers-gop" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Who Owns the GOP?</a>" (a critical review of Mayer in Dissent)</li> <li>Theda Skocpol and Vanessa Williamson, The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism</li> <li>Amanda Hollis-Brusky and Calvin Terbeek, "<a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/08/31/federalist-society-advocacy-group-227991" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Federalist Society Says It’s Not an Advocacy Organization. These Documents Show Otherwise.</a>" Politico</li> <li>Mark Schmidt "<a href="https://prospect.org/article/legend-powell-memo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Legend of the Powell Memo,</a>" The American Prospect</li> <li>Honoré de Balzac, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/260892/eugenie-grandet-by-honore-de-balzac/9780140440508/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eugénie Grandet</a> (1833)</li></ul>

Koch'd Out

David Klion

Making It is Norman Podhoretz's 1967 memoir about his journey from the working-class neighborhood of Brownsville, Brooklyn to his heady ascent in the New York literary scene of 1950s and '60s. It's also a fascinating psychological study of a man on the cusp of converting from Cold War liberalism to what came to be known as neoconservatism—a shift driven, at least in part, by the cool reception of this book. Making It proves a fascinating text through which to understand not just one conservative mind, but multiple generations of New York intellectuals, the neoconservative movement, and the politics of grievance, self-pity, and narcissism that have come to define much of conservatism in the Trump era.Sources Cited:David Klion, "The Making and Unmaking of the Podhoretz Dynasty," Jewish Currents, Dec 19, 2017Norman Podhoretz, "My Negro Problem — And Ours," Commentary, Feb 1963Janet Malcolm, "‘I Should Have Made Him for a Dentist'" New York Review of Books, Mar 22, 2018Louis Menand, "The Book That Scandalized the New York Intellectuals," The New Yorker, Apr 24, 2017Benjamin Moser, "My Podhoretz Problem — And Ours," Jewish Quarterly, Dec 5, 2018Lee Smith, "Making It," Tablet, Jan 16, 2019

Making It is Norman Podhoretz's 1967 memoir about his journey from the working-class neighborhood of Brownsville, Brooklyn to his heady ascent in the New York literary scene of 1950s and '60s. It's also a fascinating psychological study of a man on the cusp of converting from Cold War liberalism to what came to be known as neoconservatism—a shift driven, at least in part, by the cool reception of this book. Making It proves a fascinating text through which to understand not just one conservative mind, but multiple generations of New York intellectuals, the neoconservative movement, and the politics of grievance, self-pity, and narcissism that have come to define much of conservatism in the Trump era.Sources Cited:<ul><li>David Klion, "<a href="https://jewishcurrents.org/the-making-and-unmaking-of-the-podhoretz-dynasty/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Making and Unmaking of the Podhoretz Dynasty</a>," Jewish Currents, Dec 19, 2017</li><li>Norman Podhoretz, "<a href="https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/my-negro-problem-and-ours/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Negro Problem — And Ours</a>," Commentary, Feb 1963</li><li>Janet Malcolm, "<a href="https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018/03/22/norman-podhoretz-making-it/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">‘I Should Have Made Him for a Dentist'</a>" New York Review of Books, Mar 22, 2018</li><li>Louis Menand, "<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/05/01/the-book-that-scandalized-the-new-york-intellectuals" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Book That Scandalized the New York Intellectuals</a>," The New Yorker, Apr 24, 2017</li><li>Benjamin Moser, "<a href="https://www.jewishquarterly.org/2017/07/my-podhoretz-problem-and-ours/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Podhoretz Problem — And Ours,</a>" Jewish Quarterly, Dec 5, 2018</li><li>Lee Smith, "<a href="https://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/278820/norman-podhoretz-making-it-89" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Making It,</a>" Tablet, Jan 16, 2019</li></ul>

What Happened to Norman? (w/ David Klion)

Matt and Sam take up the question that's dominating The Discourse: Is Donald Trump—and the movement he leads—fascist? To provide an answer, they turn to the rich historiography of fascism and some key essays on the subject published since Trump's election. Along the way, they break down different approaches and sets of criteria for evaluating fascism, consider the similarities—and differences—between the 1920s and '30s and today, and ponder whether or not the "fascist question" is the right one to be asking. Listen to the end to find out where Matt and Sam finally land!Further Reading: Robert O. Paxton, The Anatomy of Fascism (Vintage, 2004)Friedrich Reck, Diary of a Man in Despair (New York Review of Books, 2013; originally published in 1947)Federico Finchelstein, From Fascism to Populism in History (University of California Press, 2017)Kathleen Belew, Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America Harvard University Press, 2019 Jason Stanley, How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them (Penguin, 2018)Aimé Césaire, Discourse on Colonialism (1950)George Jackson, Soledad Brother, (1970)Robert O. Paxton, "I've Hesitated to Call Donald Trump a Fascist. Until Now," Newsweek, Jan 11, 2021Richard Evans, "Why Trump Isn't Fascist," New Statesman, Jan 13, 2021Dorothy Fortenberry, "Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore" Commonweal, Nov 5, 2020Dylan Riley, "What is Trump?" New Left Review, Dec 1, 2018Gabriel Winant, "We Live in a Society," n + 1, Dec 12, 2020Alberto Toscano, "The Long Shadow of Racial Fascism," Boston Review, Oct 28, 2020Angela Davis, "Political Prisoners, Prisons and Black Liberation," Verso, Feb 21, 2018Jairus Banaji, "The Political Culture of Fascism," Historical Materialism, Feb 19, 2017.Richard Seymour, "Inchoate Fascism," Patreon, Nov 13, 2020. Samuel Moyn &amp; David Priestland, "Trump Isn’t a Threat to Our Democracy. Hysteria Is," New York Times, Aug 11, 2017Corey Robin and David Klion, "Almost the Complete Opposite of Fascism," Jewish Currents, Dec 4, 2020. Peter Steinfels "The Semi-Fascist Candidate," Commonweal, May 16, 2016....and don't forget to subscribe at Patreon for access to all of our bonus episodes!

Matt and Sam take up the question that's dominating The Discourse: Is Donald Trump—and the movement he leads—fascist? To provide an answer, they turn to the rich historiography of fascism and some key essays on the subject published since Trump's election. Along the way, they break down different approaches and sets of criteria for evaluating fascism, consider the similarities—and differences—between the 1920s and '30s and today, and ponder whether or not the "fascist question" is the right one to be asking. Listen to the end to find out where Matt and Sam finally land!Further Reading: Robert O. Paxton, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/128540/the-anatomy-of-fascism-by-robert-o-paxton/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Anatomy of Fascism</a> (Vintage, 2004)Friedrich Reck, <a href="https://www.nyrb.com/products/diary-of-a-man-in-despair?variant=1094929461" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Diary of a Man in Despair</a> (New York Review of Books, 2013; originally published in 1947)Federico Finchelstein, <a href="https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520309357/from-fascism-to-populism-in-history" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">From Fascism to Populism in History</a> (University of California Press, 2017)Kathleen Belew, <a href="https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674237698" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America</a> Harvard University Press, 2019 Jason Stanley, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586030/how-fascism-works-by-jason-stanley/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them</a> (Penguin, 2018)Aimé Césaire, <a href="https://nyupress.org/9781583670255/discourse-on-colonialism/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Discourse on Colonialism</a> (1950)George Jackson, <a href="historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/soledadbro.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Soledad Brother</a>, (1970)Robert O. Paxton, "<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/robert-paxton-trump-fascist-1560652" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I've Hesitated to Call Donald Trump a Fascist. Until Now</a>," Newsweek, Jan 11, 2021Richard Evans, "<a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/world/2021/01/why-trump-isnt-fascist" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Why Trump Isn't Fascist</a>," New Statesman, Jan 13, 2021Dorothy Fortenberry, "<a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/cant-fight-feeling-anymore" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore</a>" Commonweal, Nov 5, 2020Dylan Riley, "<a href="https://newleftreview.org/issues/ii114/articles/dylan-riley-what-is-trump" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What is Trump?</a>" New Left Review, Dec 1, 2018Gabriel Winant, "<a href="https://nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/we-live-in-a-society/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">We Live in a Society</a>," n + 1, Dec 12, 2020Alberto Toscano, "<a href="http://bostonreview.net/race-politics/alberto-toscano-long-shadow-racial-fascism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Long Shadow of Racial Fascism</a>," Boston Review, Oct 28, 2020Angela Davis, "<a href="https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/3177-political-prisoners-prisons-and-black-liberation-angela-davis" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Political Prisoners, Prisons and Black Liberation</a>," Verso, Feb 21, 2018Jairus Banaji, "<a href="https://www.historicalmaterialism.org/blog/political-culture-fascism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Political Culture of Fascism</a>," Historical Materialism, Feb 19, 2017.Richard Seymour, "<a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/inchoate-fascism-43831343" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Inchoate Fascism</a>," Patreon, Nov 13, 2020. Samuel Moyn &amp; David Priestland, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/11/opinion/sunday/trump-hysteria-democracy-tyranny.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trump Isn’t a Threat to Our Democracy. Hysteria Is,</a>" New York Times, Aug 11, 2017Corey Robin and David Klion, "<a href="https://jewishcurrents.org/almost-the-complete-opposite-of-fascism/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Almost the Complete Opposite of Fascism</a>," Jewish Currents, Dec 4, 2020. Peter Steinfels "<a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/semi-fascist-candidate" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Semi-Fascist Candidate</a>," Commonweal, May 16, 2016....and don't forget to <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">subscribe at Patreon</a> for access to all of our bonus episodes!

Did It Happen Here?

Shuja Haider

Matt and Sam are joined by writer and editor Shuja Haider to discuss a topic near and dear to all of our hearts: country music. We talk about country's conservative reputation, the problems with (and virtues of) Ken Burns's recent documentary about country music, and the humane politics that arise from acknowledging—as the best country songs do—our collective frailty. Plus, a bunch of great music recommendations for your quarantine listening.A playlist featuring every song we mention in the episode, plus a few more bangers can be accessed here.Further Reading:Matthew Sitman, "E Pluribus Country," Dissent, Winter 2020.Shuja Haider, "The Empty Jukebox: Johnny Paycheck and the Return of the Repressed in Country Music," Viewpoint,  March 10, 2015Shuja Haider, "A World That Draws a Line: Interracial Love Songs in American Country Music," Viewpoint, March 1, 2017Shuja Haider, "Canon Fodder," Popula, Sept 13, 2018Cole Stangler, "Emotional Archaeology: An Interview With Ken Burns," Commonweal, Sept 13, 2019Shuja Haider, "The Invention of Twang," The Believer, Aug 1, 2019Shuja Haider, "Somebody Had to Set a Bad Example," Popula, Nov 14, 2018Nick Murray, "The Other Country," LA Review of Books, Nov 1, 2018Jesse Montgomery, "African Chant," Popula, Sept 18, 2018

Matt and Sam are joined by writer and editor Shuja Haider to discuss a topic near and dear to all of our hearts: country music. We talk about country's conservative reputation, the problems with (and virtues of) Ken Burns's recent documentary about country music, and the humane politics that arise from acknowledging—as the best country songs do—our collective frailty. Plus, a bunch of great music recommendations for your quarantine listening.A playlist featuring every song we mention in the episode, plus a few more bangers can be accessed <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4hfUhaCtNffdtUx93z8Td3?si=EXjSZZ1dSCKebHSTaE1wWw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.Further Reading:Matthew Sitman, "<a href="https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/e-pluribus-country" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">E Pluribus Country</a>," Dissent, Winter 2020.Shuja Haider, "<a href="https://www.viewpointmag.com/2015/03/10/the-empty-jukebox-johnny-paycheck-and-the-return-of-the-repressed-in-country-music/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Empty Jukebox: Johnny Paycheck and the Return of the Repressed in Country Music</a>," Viewpoint,  March 10, 2015Shuja Haider, "<a href="https://www.viewpointmag.com/2017/03/01/a-world-that-draws-a-line-interracial-love-songs-in-american-country-music/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A World That Draws a Line: Interracial Love Songs in American Country Music</a>," Viewpoint, March 1, 2017Shuja Haider, "<a href="https://popula.com/2018/09/13/canon-fodder/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Canon Fodder</a>," Popula, Sept 13, 2018Cole Stangler, "<a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/emotional-archaeology" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Emotional Archaeology: An Interview With Ken Burns</a>," Commonweal, Sept 13, 2019Shuja Haider, "<a href="https://believermag.com/the-invention-of-twang/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Invention of Twang</a>," The Believer, Aug 1, 2019Shuja Haider, "<a href="https://popula.com/2018/11/14/somebody-had-to-set-a-bad-example/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Somebody Had to Set a Bad Example</a>," Popula, Nov 14, 2018Nick Murray, "<a href="https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-other-country/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Other Country</a>," LA Review of Books, Nov 1, 2018Jesse Montgomery, "<a href="https://popula.com/2018/09/18/african-chant/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">African Chant</a>," Popula, Sept 18, 2018

KYE Extra: The Sad Truth (w/ Shuja Haider)

Here it is—the mailbag episode. Recorded on 4/20 and celebrating a full year of Know Your Enemy, Matt and Sam answer listener questions about: conservatives hiding in plain sight, our favorite conservative novelists, a George W. Bush counterfactual, the right’s response to COVID-19, and—against our better judgment—some Bernie Sanders campaign postmortem.We received so many amazing questions for this and recorded tons of material. So much, in fact, that we decided to release another 25 minutes of it as bonus material on Patreon. If you get to the end of this episode and find yourself hankering for more, sign up on Patreon and you can listen to some extra discussion of Bob Dylan and political realignment + our entire back catalog of bonus episodes.Thanks for your support through all this. Stay safe and (reasonably) sane. Further Reading:Matthew Sitman, "Trump's Intellectuals and the Great Moving Right Show," The Bias, April 3, 2020.Matthew Sitman, "A Time For Politics," Commonweal, April 23, 2020.Matthew Sitman, "Saving Calvin from Clichés: An Interview with Marilynne Robinson," Commonweal, October 5, 2017Sam Adler-Bell, "Coronavirus Has Given the Left a Historic Opportunity," The Intercept, April 14, 2020.Sam Adler-Bell, "Beautiful Losers," Commonweal, March 11, 2020.John Thomason, "Hope Deferred (on Obama and Marilynne Robinson)," The Point, May 8, 2017.

Here it is—the mailbag episode. Recorded on 4/20 and celebrating a full year of Know Your Enemy, Matt and Sam answer listener questions about: conservatives hiding in plain sight, our favorite conservative novelists, a George W. Bush counterfactual, the right’s response to COVID-19, and—against our better judgment—some Bernie Sanders campaign postmortem.We received so many amazing questions for this and recorded tons of material. So much, in fact, that we decided to release another 25 minutes of it as bonus material on Patreon. If you get to the end of this episode and find yourself hankering for more, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sign up on Patreon</a> and you can listen to some extra discussion of Bob Dylan and political realignment + our entire back catalog of bonus episodes.Thanks for your support through all this. Stay safe and (reasonably) sane. Further Reading:Matthew Sitman, "<a href="https://christiansocialism.com/trump-r-r-reno-first-things-coronavirus-sitman/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trump's Intellectuals and the Great Moving Right Show</a>," The Bias, April 3, 2020.Matthew Sitman, "<a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/time-politics" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Time For Politics</a>," Commonweal, April 23, 2020.Matthew Sitman, "<a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/saving-calvin" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Saving Calvin from Clichés: An Interview with Marilynne Robinson</a>," Commonweal, October 5, 2017Sam Adler-Bell, "<a href="https://theintercept.com/2020/04/14/coronavirus-mutual-aid-worker-organizing-left-movement/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Coronavirus Has Given the Left a Historic Opportunity,</a>" The Intercept, April 14, 2020.Sam Adler-Bell, "<a href="https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/beautiful-losers" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beautiful Losers</a>," Commonweal, March 11, 2020.John Thomason, "<a href="https://thepointmag.com/politics/hope-deferred/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hope Deferred (on Obama and Marilynne Robinson)</a>," The Point, May 8, 2017.

Longtime Listener, First Time Caller (the Mailbag Episode)

Marshall Steinbaum

Matt and Sam are finally joined by the show's longtime bête noire, Marshall Steinbaum, for a deep dive into the Chicago school of economics and the wreckage it's supported—from welcoming the birth defects caused by deregulating the pharmaceutical industry to justifying massive resistance to desegregation to being put in the service of Coronavirus truther-ism. Where did this iteration of libertarianism come from, intellectually and institutionally? Who are the key figures in the Chicago school? How have their ideas infected the way we all think about economics and politics? It's a sordid, depressing tale of rightwing money, intellectual dishonesty, and a gleeful desire to discipline the forces of democracy.Sources and further reading:Marshall Steinbaum, The Book That Explains Charlottesville, Boston Review,  August 14, 2017Marshall Steinbaum, Economics after Neoliberalism, Boston Review, February 28, 2019Isaac Chotiner, The Contrarian Coronavirus Theory that Informed the Trump Administration, New Yorker, March 30, 2020Nancy MacLean, Democracy in Chains (Penguin-Random House, June 2017)Edward Nik-Khah, Neoliberal Pharmaceutical Science and the Chicago School of Economics (Social Studies of Science 2014, Vol. 44(4) 489–517)

Matt and Sam are finally joined by the show's longtime bête noire, Marshall Steinbaum, for a deep dive into the Chicago school of economics and the wreckage it's supported—from welcoming the birth defects caused by deregulating the pharmaceutical industry to justifying massive resistance to desegregation to being put in the service of Coronavirus truther-ism. Where did this iteration of libertarianism come from, intellectually and institutionally? Who are the key figures in the Chicago school? How have their ideas infected the way we all think about economics and politics? It's a sordid, depressing tale of rightwing money, intellectual dishonesty, and a gleeful desire to discipline the forces of democracy.Sources and further reading:Marshall Steinbaum, <a href="http://bostonreview.net/class-inequality/marshall-steinbaum-book-explains-charlottesville" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Book That Explains Charlottesville</a>, Boston Review,  August 14, 2017Marshall Steinbaum, <a href="https://bostonreview.net/forum/economics-after-neoliberalism/marshall-steinbaum-empiricism-alone-wont-save-us" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Economics after Neoliberalism</a>, Boston Review, February 28, 2019Isaac Chotiner, <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/the-contrarian-coronavirus-theory-that-informed-the-trump-administration" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Contrarian Coronavirus Theory that Informed the Trump Administration</a>, New Yorker, March 30, 2020Nancy MacLean, <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/533763/democracy-in-chains-by-nancy-maclean/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Democracy in Chains</a> (Penguin-Random House, June 2017)Edward Nik-Khah, Neoliberal Pharmaceutical Science and the Chicago School of Economics (Social Studies of Science 2014, Vol. 44(4) 489–517)

The Windbag City (w/ Marshall Steinbaum)

Our rollicking conversation with Know Your Enemy Film Correspondent Jesse Brenneman is now out from behind the paywall! Be prepared: we dive into Darrel Campbell's 2012 war-on-Christmas fever dream Last Ounce of Courage, a deranged film that nevertheless offers real insight into the conservative mind. (If you really love freedom, you can watch the film here, before you listen. But it is not at all necessary.)  Jesse is a seasoned radio producer and dear friend—and funny. He has his own new podcast you should check out: Tech Talk with Tim and Ted. WATCH: Last Ounce of Courage (YouTube) READ: the Ronald Reagan speeches mentioned in the episode: "A Time for Choosing" (October, 27, 1964 ) and "Encroaching Control" (March 30, 1961)   *** As mentioned in the intro, we're doing a mailbag episode next week. Please submit questions you'd like us to answer on air by email knowyourenemypodcast[AT]gmail.com OR by tweet  @Knowyrenemypod ***

Our rollicking conversation with Know Your Enemy Film Correspondent <a href="https://twitter.com/Jesse_Brenneman" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jesse Brenneman</a> is now out from behind the paywall! Be prepared: we dive into Darrel Campbell's 2012 war-on-Christmas fever dream Last Ounce of Courage, a deranged film that nevertheless offers real insight into the conservative mind. (If you really love freedom, you can watch the film <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2biJXs37mY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>, before you listen. But it is not at all necessary.)  Jesse is a seasoned radio producer and dear friend—and funny. He has his own new podcast you should check out: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tech-talk/id1498677455" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tech Talk with Tim and Ted</a>. WATCH: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2biJXs37mY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Last Ounce of Courage</a> (YouTube) READ: the Ronald Reagan speeches mentioned in the episode: "<a href="http://https//teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/a-time-for-choosing/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Time for Choosing</a>" (October, 27, 1964 ) and "<a href="http://https//archive.org/details/RonaldReagan-EncroachingControl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Encroaching Control</a>" (March 30, 1961) *** As mentioned in the intro, we're doing a mailbag episode next week. Please submit questions you'd like us to answer on air by email knowyourenemypodcast[AT]<a href="http://gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">gmail.com</a> OR by tweet  <a href="https://twitter.com/KnowYrEnemyPod" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@Knowyrenemypod</a> ***

KYE Extra: "Last Ounce of Courage"

John Ganz

Matt and Sam talk to John Ganz about paleoconservatism, the Island of the Misfit Toys of the American right. Along the way we're introduced to David Duke, Pat Buchanan, Sam Francis, and others, and discuss their enduring influence on the Republican Party and conservative politics—both in 1992, when Buchanan made a failed run for president, and today, when the hopes of their movement seems to have been fulfilled in Donald Trump.Sources and Recommended Reading:John Ganz, The Year the Clock Broke (The Baffler)John Ganz, Finding Neverland (The New Republic)Rick Perlstein, I Thought I Understood the American Right. Trump Proved Me Wrong  (New York Times)Murray Rothbard, Right-Wing Populism: A Strategy for the Paleo MovementMichael Brendan Dougherty, The Castaway (America's Future Foundation)Shuja Haider, How To Be a Democrat, According to Republicans (The Outline)

Matt and Sam talk to John Ganz about paleoconservatism, the Island of the Misfit Toys of the American right. Along the way we're introduced to David Duke, Pat Buchanan, Sam Francis, and others, and discuss their enduring influence on the Republican Party and conservative politics—both in 1992, when Buchanan made a failed run for president, and today, when the hopes of their movement seems to have been fulfilled in Donald Trump.Sources and Recommended Reading:John Ganz, <a href="https://thebaffler.com/salvos/the-year-the-clock-broke-ganz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Year the Clock Broke</a> (The Baffler)John Ganz, <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/156368/finding-neverland-conservative-quest-rid-trumpism" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Finding Neverland</a> (The New Republic)Rick Perlstein, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/magazine/i-thought-i-understood-the-american-right-trump-proved-me-wrong.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I Thought I Understood the American Right. Trump Proved Me Wrong </a> (New York Times)Murray Rothbard, <a href="http://rothbard.altervista.org/articles/right-wing-populism.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Right-Wing Populism: A Strategy for the Paleo Movement</a>Michael Brendan Dougherty, <a href="https://americasfuture.org/the-castaway/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Castaway</a> (America's Future Foundation)Shuja Haider, <a href="https://theoutline.com/post/8744/republicans-advice-to-democrats?utm_source=contributor_pages" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How To Be a Democrat, According to Republicans</a> (The Outline)

The Year the Clock Broke (w/ John Ganz)

Ross Douthat

Ross Douthat is that strangest of all creatures, a religious conservative with a New York Times column—a perch from which he pronounces on U.S. politics, the Catholic Church, and modern culture with style and intelligence, plus a dash of mordant pessimism. In other words, the perfect choice to be the first "enemy" to come on the show. He joins Matt and Sam to discuss his own conservatism, the American right in the Trump era, and his new book The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success. Further Reading:Ross Douthat, "The Decade of Disillusionment," NYT, Dec 28, 2019Ross Douthat, "The Case for Bernie," NYT, Nov 30, 2019Ross Douthat, "Trump’s Message: Love It or Leave It, With a Bigoted Edge," NYT, Jul 16, 2019Ross Douthat, "What Are Conservatives Actually Debating?" NYT, June 4, 2019Rudyard Kipling, "The Gods of the Copybook Headings," Harper's, Oct 26, 1919

Ross Douthat is that strangest of all creatures, a religious conservative with a New York Times column—a perch from which he pronounces on U.S. politics, the Catholic Church, and modern culture with style and intelligence, plus a dash of mordant pessimism. In other words, the perfect choice to be the first "enemy" to come on the show. He joins Matt and Sam to discuss his own conservatism, the American right in the Trump era, and his new book <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Decadent-Society/Ross-Douthat/9781476785240" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success</a>. Further Reading:<ul><li>Ross Douthat, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/28/opinion/sunday/2010s-decade-disillusionment.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Decade of Disillusionment</a>," NYT, Dec 28, 2019</li><li>Ross Douthat, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/30/opinion/sunday/bernie-sanders.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Case for Bernie</a>," NYT, Nov 30, 2019</li><li>Ross Douthat, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/opinion/trump-thiel-nationalism.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trump’s Message: Love It or Leave It, With a Bigoted Edge</a>," NYT, Jul 16, 2019</li><li>Ross Douthat, "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/opinion/conservatives-david-french-trump.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What Are Conservatives Actually Debating?</a>" NYT, June 4, 2019</li><li>Rudyard Kipling, "<a href="http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poems_copybook.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Gods of the Copybook Headings</a>," Harper's, Oct 26, 1919</li></ul>

Morbid Symptoms (w/ Ross Douthat)

In episode two of KNOW YOUR ENEMY, Matt and Sam discuss  economist Albert O. Hirschman's 1991 book The Rhetoric of Reaction: Perversity, Futility, Jeopardy. Along the way, they identify the persistent patterns in conservative rhetoric from Edmund Burke to Friedrich Hayek to Paul Ryan. They finish off by examining some of the rhetorical tics of the progressive left, and Sam reminisces about the good old days when DSA was comprised exclusive of young nerds and old Jews.

In episode two of KNOW YOUR ENEMY, Matt and Sam discuss economist Albert O. Hirschman's 1991 book <a href="http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674768680" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Rhetoric of Reaction: Perversity, Futility, Jeopardy</a>. Along the way, they identify the persistent patterns in conservative rhetoric from Edmund Burke to Friedrich Hayek to Paul Ryan. They finish off by examining some of the rhetorical tics of the progressive left, and Sam reminisces about the good old days when DSA was comprised exclusive of young nerds and old Jews.

How Conservatives Argue

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The best podcast episodes on non-current politics. Covering topics such as universal basic income, democracy, poverty & justice and more. For anyone interested in learning more about politics that affect that world, not just now, but in the longer term. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!