Major-Duma

On today’s Ruminant, Jonah serves up a typically eclectic potpourri of rank punditry and historical ...

By

On today’s Ruminant, Jonah serves up a typically eclectic potpourri of rank punditry and historical nerdery. After exploring how, in almost literary fashion, Kevin McCarthy’s hidden normalcy has proved to be his undoing, Jonah turns to the origins of socialism, and what the Soviet approach to collectivism can tell us about Putin’s ambitions for Russia today. He also shares his thoughts on Florida’s Disney kerfuffle, modern architecture, and what we can expect from the upcoming midterms. 

Show Notes:

– The Remnant with Thomas Chatterton Williams

– Kevin McCarthy’s political malpractice

Start a Free Trial
Get every newsletter and all of The Dispatch. Support quality, fact-based journalism. Get Started ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT? SIGN IN
By
Comments (51)
Join The Dispatch to participate in the comments.
 
  1. SMcD

    I am a member of the Dispatch and have been since the early days. Best $10 I spend each month. Love it all! Keep up the great work.

    Collapse
  2. Avatar photo
    Austin Byrd

    While I generally agree with the point being made regarding intended audience and tastes, I have to throw in a word of defense for the unfairly maligned Wiley Dufresne. I ate at his now closed restaurant wd~50 - referred to as "a molecular gastronomy New American/international restaurant" on Wikipedia, so quite literally what Jonah is referring to - many years ago, and it was one of the best meals of my life. He later opened a coffee and donut shop and generally seems to be less of an egomaniac than most chefs of that ilk. Far better to have trained your guns on an insufferable target who actually fits the bill in Daniel Humm, who is currently charging $335/person with a side of climate change panic and zero meat. I know of at least one formerly Michelin starred chef who listens to the pod and will agree with me!

    Collapse
  3. Avatar photo
    The Bell Tower

    Man, when my wife asked me about this Disney thing, I should have just played her that part of this podcast. I agree word for word, as I often do.

    And as for faux libertarians wrapping themselves in the same mantle they’ve been wiping their asses with for generations, the Dr Seuss thing was another great example.

    Imagine if the estate of Maya Angelou suddenly announced they were going to stop publishing the excerpts of her poetry that might offend white people. Surely the same ding dongs waxing libertarian about Seuss would be singing a different tune.

    Republics are not equipped to sustain vengeance as a political model, as Mr. French recently reminded us that John Adam’s (and Ben Franklin) warned.

    Collapse
  4. PJ Heyer

    @Jonah I agree that it’s too convenient to become a libertarian on Disney tax district NOW (all of sudden, in an effort to fortify a new front in the culture war).

    This still misses the point that a state (or State) powerful enough to give special dispensations is also powerful enough to take them away.

    So while it’s disingenuous to flip “shirts and skins,” it’s perfectly principled to point out that when you take favors from the state, you become beholden to the state politically and culturally.

    Collapse
  5. Avatar photo
    ed74siasl

    While it is clearly factually accurate that Looney Tunes characters crush Disney in comedy terms, it's an apples to oranges comparison. Looney Tunes never really tried to be anything but funny.

    Collapse
  6. Avatar photo
    Tele

    If this comes up on GLOP, I've got the outro music:

    https://davidlowery.bandcamp.com/track/disneyland-jail-1977

    Collapse
  7. Avatar photo
    Mark B

    I feel like I’m less likely to get permission from my wife to clean our house than Putin is to get permission from the Duma to do anything.

    Collapse
  8. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    During the architecture rant I started having flashbacks to reading the Fountainhead. I have a feeling Jonah wouldn’t have been on Howard Roark’s good side when it came to modern architecture.

    Collapse
  9. Avatar photo
    Marc Frischhertz

    Bullseye on Warren and other progressives

    Collapse
  10. Avatar photo
    Marc Frischhertz

    Funny joke you told about Bret asking McCarthy hard questions. I will bet any sum, Bret does no such thing.

    Collapse
Load More