Shield of the Republic America Can't Go It Alone
Nov 2, 2025
The hosts tackle the GOP's troubling ties to anti-Semitism and extremist elements. They debunk Trump's misleading claims about nuclear weapons while discussing the importance of managing international alliances. Insights from Canada reveal how Trump strained relations with allies, including the UK and France. They also scrutinize U.S. operations in Venezuela, questioning their legality and strategic coherence. Lastly, the potential consequences of intervention in Latin America by global powers like Russia and China are explored.
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GOP's Unchecked Anti‑Semitism Problem
- J.D. Vance's exchange revealed a disturbing tolerance for theological-based denigrations of Jews within GOP circles.
- Eliot Cohen argues this failure to rebut anti-Semitic tropes signals a deeper moral and political deficit in parts of the Republican mainstream.
Mainstream Failure Lets Extremists Thrive
- Eric Edelman highlights mainstream conservative institutions' failure to police extremists as enabling Nazism's rise in GOP circles.
- He sees leadership tolerance for figures like Tucker Carlson as evidence of institutional bankruptcy on the right.
Buckley's Turn Against Bigotry
- William F. Buckley evolved from unsavory early positions to policing anti‑Semitism in his magazine later in life.
- Eliot Cohen recounts Buckley's decision to stop publishing friends who expressed anti‑Semitic views as a model of policing the movement.
