Podcast Saturday, Plus the Week in Headlines

Plus some extra Pope Bob memes, because I can't help it

It’s another two-podcast Saturday to end the week. First up, the Ricochet podcast with special guest Ben Domenech, editor-at-large for The Spectator. James, Charles and I have a fascinating conversation with Ben about his recent 90-minute long interview with President Trump in the Oval Office. Plus some thoughts about the new Pope, and why California is facing the real prospect of $8 gasoline before long. Listen here, or at the link just above:

Then it’s on to the Three Whisky Happy Hour, where John Yoo hosts as we hold ecumenical court on what to think about a new Pope who displays some progressive political sympathies, but is a math major and an Augustinian, which are more promising indications. We offer a few things to watch for as this papacy unfolds.

Next up: what to make of Trump’s foreign policy, especially in light of the firing of NSA Mike Waltz. John is confused (so what else is new?), and once again Steve and Lucretia have to sort him out about how foreign policy analysis ought to begin, with the first step being, throw out all your academic IR theories! Meanwhile, the title for today’s episode arises from a joke in the middle of this topic. (You’ll just have to listen to find out what it is, and if you don’t like it, blame Richard Samuelson!)

Finally, we use the latest disgrace at Columbia to judge whether colleges are starting to shape up or not, and why we want the Trump Administration to keep up the pressure. As usual, listen here, or download from the link above:

I’m still trying to get over an American Pope from Chicago. It’s the kind of thing that would get you kicked out of a Hollywood studio if you proposed it as a film script. And yet here we are.

But back to headlines. I missed a couple more howlers in my roundup Friday of stupid media climate change headlines, so let’s start with these:

I thought truth was a defense accepted in court since the 18th century. Apparently not:

Gee—who knew Germans might have a problem with bullying?

Breaking news from 2010:

What would we do without studies:

Or maybe she’s just a wacko poser:

Never forget how much you hate NPR:

Or this:

I dunno. Shouldn’t we blame climate change:

Coming soon to a California near you:

I’m sure this will work:

And finally back to Pope Bob. Looks like The Guardian doesn’t like the fact that Leo XIV is actually . . . a Catholic!