Prepackaged Henhouses | Ruminant

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Nov 15, 2025

Dive into the nuances of post-liberalism and the political dynamics of the government shutdown. Discover how misleading labels can obscure the real issues at play in extremist movements. Jonah critiques Tucker Carlson's controversial views on Japan, linking cultural trends to political realities. Explore the historical intertwining of socialism and nationalism, and learn about the moral implications of illiberal arguments. Join the engaging debate on how terms can dull critical thought in today's political landscape.

01:28:17

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INSIGHT

Shutdown Helped Democrats Politically

Jonah Goldberg argues the 2023 government shutdown ultimately advantaged Democrats politically despite surface chaos.
He says messaging and perceptions matter more than logical coherence in modern politics.

insights

INSIGHT

Three Paths On Premium Subsidies

Goldberg outlines three political options Republicans faced over expiring Obamacare premium subsidies.
He predicts muddled compromises likely help Democrats more than Republicans given affordability headwinds.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Optics Matter More Than Details

Jonah recounts being more offended by Trump's partisan remarks at Arlington than by the East Wing renovation fuss.
He uses that to show how visual metaphors and optics shape public impressions more than policy details.

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Why the Shutdown Played Well for Democrats

01:30 • 4min

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The Political Logic Behind Shutdown Messaging

06:00 • 4min

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Three Paths Republicans Could Take on Health Subsidies

New Epstein Documents — What They Mean

20:19 • 5min

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What Is Post-Liberalism?

25:09 • 4min

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Do Post-Liberals Enable the Groyper Moment?

28:44 • 9min

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Illiberalism vs. Post-Liberalism: Moral Flavors

37:33 • 5min

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Carl Schmitt, Friend-Enemy Politics, and the New Right

How Labels Distort Our Understanding of Extremism

45:47 • 5min

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Why Moving the Overton Window Matters

50:52 • 30sec

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When Calling Someone a Nazi Is Useful

51:21 • 4min

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Prepackaged Labels Hurt Thoughtful Debate

55:48 • 2min

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Liberalism's Two Meanings and Common Confusions

57:45 • 4min

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How Socialism and Nationalism Intertwined Historically

01:01:28 • 8min

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Socialism as Solidarity and Technocratic Hope

01:09:38 • 3min

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Fascism, Nationalism, and the Moral Equivalent of War

01:13:01 • 7min

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Why Illiberal Arguments Often Sound Similar

01:20:10 • 26sec

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Dispatch Newsletter and Advisory Opinions Plug

01:20:36 • 1min

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How Porn and Social Trends Shape Politics

01:21:49 • 21sec

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Debunking Tucker Carlson's 'Japan Won' Thesis

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Tyranny of Clichés

Jonah Goldberg

In this book, Jonah Goldberg exposes and dismantles various liberal clichés that are often used to cheat in the war of ideas. He argues that liberals hide radical arguments in homespun aphorisms and deny having an ideological agenda while vigorously pursuing it. Goldberg examines several common clichés, such as 'the living constitution,' 'social justice,' and 'diversity is strength,' and reveals how these concepts are deeply ideological and often accepted uncritically. The book is written with humor and passion, aiming to show how these clichés shape our thinking and can lead to self-destruction.

#6019

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

• Mentioned in 14 episodes

Regime Change

Toward a Postliberal Future

Patrick J. Deneen

In 'Regime Change: Toward a Postliberal Future', Patrick Deneen presents a vision for a postliberal society, critiquing the current liberal order for eroding traditional social structures such as family, religion, and local community. Deneen argues that classical liberalism has created a self-serving elite that benefits at the expense of the working class. He proposes a new elite aligned with the interests of the working class, advocating for a mixed regime that combines elements of aristocracy and democracy. The book builds on his previous work, 'Why Liberalism Failed', and suggests a strategic formation of a new elite devoted to 'pre-postmodern conservatism' and the common good, particularly attentive to the voice and status of the working class.

#9747

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

Revolutionary Spring

Christopher Clark

Revolutionary Spring by Christopher Clark is a meticulously researched and elegantly written account of the 1848 revolutions that swept Europe. The book explores the political and social upheavals of that year, highlighting charismatic figures and the lasting influence of these events on European history. Clark draws parallels between the revolutions of 1848 and contemporary societal challenges, offering a fresh perspective on this pivotal moment in history.

#3232

• Mentioned in 11 episodes

Politics and the English Language

George Orwell

In 'Politics and the English Language', George Orwell argues that vague and imprecise language can obscure truth and manipulate public opinion. He critiques the 'ugly and inaccurate' written English of his time, particularly in political contexts, where language is used to 'make lies sound truthful and murder respectable'. Orwell emphasizes the importance of clear and concrete language, suggesting that poor writing fosters poor political thinking and is a danger to society. He provides examples of bad writing and offers guidelines for effective writing, including six rules to avoid the misuse of language. Orwell believes that language and thought are interdependent and that improving language can help improve political life.

#988

• Mentioned in 29 episodes

Why Liberalism Failed

Patrick J. Deneen

In 'Why Liberalism Failed,' Patrick J. Deneen critiques both classical liberalism (often called libertarianism) and progressive/modern liberalism. He argues that liberalism has created contradictions such as fostering material inequality despite advocating for equal rights, discouraging civic commitments in favor of privatism, and giving rise to a comprehensive state system while pursuing individual autonomy. Deneen contends that liberalism's success is generating its own failure, leading to issues like income inequality, cultural decline, atomization, and the erosion of freedoms. The book examines the outcomes of the growth of the state, the construction of the free market, and the effects of technology on freedoms and culture.

#1752

• Mentioned in 19 episodes

Liberal fascism

The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning

Jonah Goldberg

In 'Liberal Fascism', Jonah Goldberg presents a controversial argument that fascist movements were and are rooted in left-wing ideologies. He contends that the original fascists, including Mussolini and Hitler, were on the left and that their policies and principles share similarities with those of modern liberal progressives. Goldberg explores how fascist elements, such as statism, eugenic racism, and the suppression of individual freedoms, have been present in various forms of liberal and progressive movements throughout history. The book challenges the mainstream view that fascism is exclusively a far-right ideology and argues that the totalitarian impulse is a common thread among these movements.

After deftly disposing of some punditry on the government shutdown and the Epstein files, Jonah Goldberg jumps head first into the topics of the week: postliberalism, groypers, and the immense challenges of political labels. Plus, dedicated listeners will be treated to a rant on Tucker Carlson and Japan.

Shownotes:
—Remnant episode with Yuval Levin
—The Editors podcast on the shutdown
—Jonah’s take on the East Wing
—Wednesday’s G-File
—Today’s Dispatch Podcast
—Tucker Carlson interviews Nick Fuentes
—Postliberal Order Substack
—Jonah's last book
—Why Liberalism Failed
—Regime Change: Toward a Postliberal Future
—Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning
—Dispatch article on Carl Schmitt in China
—Rod Dreher Substack on his visit to Washington
—George Orwell: “Politics and the English Language”
—The Tyranny of Clichés: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas
—G-File: “On the Mother of All Questions”
—The Morning Dispatch
—Advisory Opinions podcast
—Sarah Isgur: Last Branch Standing
—Tucker on Japan

We’re running a listener survey, which you can find at thedispatch.typeform.com/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.

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