Jonah Goldberg discusses a range of interesting topics in this podcast, including the politics of a potential Biden impeachment, the Senate's new dress code, and the prospect of a second Biden term. He also explores why men spend so much time thinking about Rome and delves into the evolution of morality, the treatment of enemies in ancient Rome, and the significance of dress codes. Additionally, Goldberg touches on the perspective of Czechoslovakians during World War I and the Russian Revolution.
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Quick takeaways
Exploring off the main road allows a deeper understanding of a country and its natural beauty.
True courage in politics comes from standing up for principles, even in the face of opposition.
Rome's fascination lies in its ability to examine human nature and create moral standards.
Deep dives
The Importance of Ethical AI and Listening to Employee Values
The podcast episode discusses the importance of ethical AI and how companies can benefit from truly listening to what their employees value. It highlights the insights that business leaders need to know in order to stay ahead and reinvent the future of their businesses.
Experiencing the Real Nature of a Country
The host shares their experience of driving cross-country and the realization that the country looks very different when staying on and off the interstate. They emphasize the importance of getting off the main road and exploring the natural beauty and real state of a country.
Courage in Politics and the Lack of Genuine Convictions
The podcast delves into the concept of courage in politics and how character and convictions shape actions. It highlights how true courage comes when individuals are willing to stand up for their principles, even when it may come at a cost or when facing opposition from their own party or tribe.
The Complexity of Rome
The speaker discusses the fascination with Rome and argues that Rome should not be seen as simply evil or backward in comparison to modern society. Instead, Rome represents a civilization where base passions were still close to the surface, allowing us to examine human nature and interaction. Rome created intellectual, legal, and philosophical constructs to refine and improve upon these base passions, setting moral standards that made humanity better.
The Role of Incentives in Society
The speaker emphasizes the importance of incentives in shaping human behavior and society. He highlights the misunderstandings and failures of regimes that do not take into account human nature and the need for incentives. Incentives, whether economic or related to status, play a crucial role in motivating individuals and driving economic growth. Understanding and aligning incentives is essential for institutions to thrive and for societies to progress.
Frank Sinatra once observed that “you’ve either got or you haven’t got style,” but when you’re living out of an RV in the wilds of Iowa—or, for that matter, representing your state in the halls of the US Senate—that doesn’t really matter. Jonah’s still on the road today, but he can’t outrun his existential dread. To drown it out for a while instead, he delivers yet another unfocused, inordinately long Ruminant to end the week. This time, much of his irritation is directed toward the renewed jackassery of Matt Gaetz and the politics of a potential Biden impeachment, but plenty of righteous indignation is also reserved for the Senate’s new dress code and the increasingly shaky prospect of a second Biden term. Plus, tune in to hear Jonah elaborate on why men spend so much time thinking about Rome (almost as much, in fact, as they spend thinking about Nixon).