The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg Politics of Who Rather Than What | Interview: Yuval Levin
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Nov 5, 2025 
In a thought-provoking conversation, Yuval Levin, a policy scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, shares insights on Dick Cheney's complex legacy and the importance of institutional roles. They explore the recent rise of antisemitism, contrasting leftist and right-wing perspectives. Levin argues for the need for less populism in politics, highlighting how boring politicians can better represent median voters. Their discussion also touches on the impact of media on political extremes and the shifting dynamics of leadership and coalitions.
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Cheney's Quiet Intensity
- Yuval Levin recalls briefing Dick Cheney as a young White House domestic policy staffer and being unnerved by Cheney's intense, silent questioning style.
- Levin admired Cheney's seriousness about roles and how family devotion revealed his character in unexpected ways.
Restore Congressional Prerogatives
- Levin argues the American constitutional order now needs congressional reassertion because presidential power has become dominant over decades.
- He says arguments for presidential liberation from the 1980s have now gone too far and Congress must reclaim prerogatives.
Resentment-Driven Politics Backfires
- Levin warns populism organized around resentment tends to erode constructive ambitions and leads to ugly outcomes.
- He says Heritage's recent turn toward populism illustrates how suspicion-driven politics curdles into damaging behavior.
