Rocket Mensch

After plotting world domination at AEI’s World Forum, Jonah is back in the D.C. swampland ...

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After plotting world domination at AEI’s World Forum, Jonah is back in the D.C. swampland for today’s Ruminant. He begins by elaborating on the strange metaphysical ideas discussed in last week’s episode before turning to the war in Ukraine, and the baffling idea peddled by some on the right that Zelensky is trying to incite a global thermonuclear war. From there, things get nerdy, as Jonah explores whether populism may be falling out of style and indulges in a lengthy rant on Woodrow Wilson. Tune in for the cherished sound effects, but stick around to hear a few ideas for the Remnant’s 500th episode.

Show Notes: 

– Last weekend’s bizarre Ruminant

– Metaxy

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  1. Avatar photo
    Kit Webster

    Russia and its relationship with generals. You might look into Stalin's Rein of Terror or the movie, Burnt by the Sun

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  2. DocHeartless

    I've been thinking a bit about my favorite podcasts from the dispatch and why I liked them so much. It's probably easiest to explain through example. I actually really liked your podcast where a bit too much brown liquor was involved. I loved the "no, it really is about the six million dollar man" moment from the Riggleman conversation where he genuinely got you. I liked hearing you practically beg Stirewalt not to compliment you anymore because of the whole guilt dynamic. I remember hearing the pain in Sarah's voice after Janurary 6. I liked David bending over backwards to mend fences with Sarah over MTG. I liked Steve's reaction that the ineptitude and betrayal of our bureaucracy was absolutely "jawdropping." I wept at Sarah's recount of her ectopic pregnancy. And I liked hearing people interrupt your podcast to set up chairs and your reaction: meh, I should probably just pause the rankness to carry some damn seats around.

    We live in a world of too much information, of every flavor, and so much of it is performative. We stand mystified at the propaganda flowing through Russia, but I would argue that we have a related issue here at home. They cannot access truthful commentary and analysis because of lack of access, but we often can't because of a surfeit of information. So many news sources lie through omission and selective emphasis. The result of our two nations' environments, tragically, is sometimes the same. Russians and Ukrainians pick up the phone and genuinely can no longer relate to each other--MSNBC and Foxnews viewers can't either.

    The magic of the dispatch at its core is the values that you all founded the organization with: the steel man method, the honesty regardless of political angle, the refusal to bow to audience pressure for what they want versus what they may need, etc... But it also has something to do with the faith we have in you, cultivated by your lives and your intellectual rigor over the last few years. But that sensation we have of you, one of honesty and trustworthiness, is reiterated by the glimpses of your human, flawed, and very real selves. Of course, this could easily be overdone -- no one wants another Joe Rogan, after all. But I salute you all and your producers for recognizing that we appreciate the glimpses of your bloopers, intrusions of family and pets, emotional moments, loving disagreements, and joyful insights. It can be a scary thing to lower your guards as you all do fairly often, but we appreciate it. Keep on keeping on.

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    1. Avatar photo
      C C Writer

      Numerous extra likes for your last paragraph. You nailed what all this is really about. We don't demand perfection, but we respond to honest efforts at goodness and being real. This is not trivial; it's a big stake for them to have put in the ground, a solid foundation for a mission that is supposed to bring about some positive change.

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  3. Avatar photo
    Jason Gibson

    Thank thank you for being consistent with Uruk hai theme

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  4. Avatar photo
    Jason Gibson

    I’m curious about yuval questioning Christianity not being comfortable with contradiction. That’s not my experience

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  5. Avatar photo
    Joe Delanis

    All these music-themed titles for the solo Remnant raises this question, Mr. Goldberg:

    When are you going to appear on Political Beats?

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  6. Avatar photo
    Joe Delanis

    All these music-themed titles for the solo Remnant raises this question, Mr. Goldberg:

    When are you going to appear on Political Beats?

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  7. Avatar photo
    Mike B

    Does anyone else have difficulty distinguishing between the Remnant and the Ruminant? I suspect they are completely interchangeable.

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  8. Avatar photo
    Seth B

    My praxis: Listening to the Remnant during metaxy ride home.

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  9. Avatar photo
    Ben Connelly

    Jonah knows how to give good fan service! The Remnant audience is always down for Woodrow Wilson bashing. I think “Woodrow Wilson was bad” (probably a direct quote) was one of the first historical facts I knew as a preschooler.

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  10. Avatar photo
    Bill Dyer (aka Beldar)

    So let me see if I have this right now:

    Is "mextaxy" the interval between the time I hear Mr. Goldberg say the word "Play-Doh" in this podcast, and the moment when I realize he actually said "Plato"?

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