The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

In her debut appearance at Le Bistro Remnant, Rebecca Newberger-Goldstein serves up a philosophical Smörgåsbord for Jonah Goldberg, including the four forms of mattering, the distinction between humans and other animals, the brilliance and depression of William James, and the principle of entropy, all with a little bit of Spinoza sprinkled in. Shownotes:—The Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us—Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity—36 Arguments for the Existence of God: A Work of Fiction—Steven Pinker’s essay on entropy—Jonah’s most recent book—Dominion by Tom Holland—Steven Pinker’s appearance on The Remnant—Megan McArdle—“The Brother I Lost” The Remnant is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of Jonah’s G-File newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah Goldberg is joined by Ken Burns, the prolific American filmmaker behind documentaries on the Civil War and American Revolution. The two discuss the importance of historical narratives, why George Washington is so pivotal, and whether Jonah would have been a Loyalist or Patriot. Show Notes:—Washington Monthly's review of The American Revolution (2025)—Jonah's Next 250 essay: "The American Revolution Was a Really Big Deal" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah Goldberg ruminates on the Trump administration's response to the ICE shooting in Minneapolis, the use of the word "regime," and where nationalism goes wrong. Show Notes:—Wednesday's G-File—Friday's Dispatch Podcast The Remnant is a production of ⁠⁠The Dispatch⁠⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of Jonah’s G-File newsletters—⁠⁠click here⁠⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠⁠by clicking here⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah Goldberg is joined by returning guest Matt Ridley, author of Birds, Sex and Beauty: The Extraordinary Implications of Charles Darwin's Strangest Idea. The two discuss the beauty of birds and the distinction between natural selection and sexual selection, how species evolve to adapt to city life, and the origins of the COVID-19 virus.Show Notes:—Matt's previous appearance on The Remnant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second installment of The Remnant’s unofficial presidential-biographers series, Jonah Goldberg powwows with Lindsay Chervinsky about John Adams, the Alien and Sedition Acts, unwritten laws, the pardon power, and the centrality of the Continental Army to the development of American identity. Plus, Jonah asks Lindsay about his favorite libertarian urban myth. Shownotes:—Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic—List of vice presidents of the United States—Remnant on Martin Van Buren—George Washington’s cover letter—Jeffrey Rosen - The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America—General Orders, 4 July 1775 The Remnant is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch’s offerings—including access to all of Jonah’s G-File newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you’d like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices