

The Mona Charen Show
The Bulwark
After a great five year run on Beg to Differ, Mona Charen brings you a new show dedicated to deepening your understanding of complex issues and trends facing society. Each week she'll engage an expert for a probing discussion that goes past the day's headlines.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 19, 2022 • 57min
I'm Sorry, That's Classified
Former CIA officer David Priess joins the group to consider Trump's secrets squirreled away in Mar-a-Lago, the "woke" FBI, the Democrats' prospects in the midterms, and much more. And Cathy Young sits in for Linda Chavez.
Highlights/Lowlights:
Mona's:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-american-academy-of-pediatrics-dubious-transgender-science-jack-turban-research-social-contagion-gender-dysphoria-puberty-blockers-uk-11660732791
David's :
https://twitter.com/ErinSikorsky/status/1547551734465286148?s=20&t=5bYpYiqMffg2JsL7lVQpkw
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Aug 12, 2022 • 57min
GOP vs. Rule of Law (with Ted Nordhaus)
Ted Nordhaus of the Breakthrough Institute answers doubts about nuclear energy. And the panel (including Walter Olson) then turns to the FBI's Mar-a-Lago search warrant and the GOP meltdown. Also, Biden had a good week. Will it matter?
Highlights & Lowlights
Mona: The Shovel’s view on the Donald Trump FBI raid - The Shovel (https://www.theshovel.com.au/2022/08/10/the-shovels-view-on-the-fbis-raid-on-donald-trumps-home/)
Linda: Behind the headlines: What is the Afghan Adjustment Act? - International Rescue Committee (https://www.rescue.org/article/behind-headlines-what-afghan-adjustment-act)
Bill: As China Plans Drills Circling Taiwan, U.S. Officials Fear a Squeeze Play - The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/03/us/politics/china-exercises-taiwan-fears.html)
Walter Olson: Code Snitching: Nashvillians Are Weaponizing Metro Codes Against ‘Undesirable’ Neighbors - Nashville Scene (https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/coverstory/code-snitching-nashvillians-are-weaponizi[…]ighbors/article_5e94bd56-0c67-11ed-af4e-e3d04ad7e500.html)
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Aug 5, 2022 • 54min
Kansas Shocker (with A.B. Stoddard)
A.B. Stoddard helps analyze this week's primary election results and also tackles the 2024 question: If not Biden, who?
Highlights & Lowlights:
Linda: The Jan. 6 Committee’s Findings Have Met the Appropriately High Bar for Prosecuting Trump - The UnPopulist (https://theunpopulist.substack.com/p/the-jan-6-committees-findings-have?utm_source=email)
Damon: The Violent Fantasies of Blake Masters - The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/03/opinion/blake-masters-arizona-senate.html)
How the Claremont Institute Became a Nerve Center of the American Right - The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/03/magazine/claremont-institute-conservative.html)
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Jul 29, 2022 • 1h 8min
Indict Them All? (with Nicholas Grossman)
Arc Digital's Nicholas Grossman joins the Beg to Differ panel to debate prosecuting Trump, and to weigh the impact of the GOP's crazy candidates. In the lightning round, we cover the Manchin deal, the Respect for Marriage Act, Brittney Griner, and more.
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Jul 22, 2022 • 56min
Did the January 6 Committee Make a Difference? (with Tom Nichols)
Tom Nichols joins the group (plus Jon Ward) to discuss the committee's work, the polls on Trump's standing in the GOP, the Secret Service, Ukraine, Democrats boosting Trumpy candidates, and much more.
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Jul 15, 2022 • 52min
A Patchwork Nation on Abortion (with Frances Kissling)
After a multi-decade project to reverse Roe, the two biggest issues right now are interstate travel and pregnancy-terminating pills. Guest host Will Saletan, guest Frances Kissling, and the panel address abortion access and the politics of it all.
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Jul 8, 2022 • 1h 8min
Can Democrats do Politics? (with Ruy Teixeira)
Ruy Teixeira joins Beg to Differ to consider abortion, guns, crime, and other issues on which Democrats can't seem to find the sweet spot. Also, is there any chance for a moderate party?
Highlights & Lowlights
Linda: How Unlikely Is It That the Audits of Comey and McCabe Were a Coincidence? A Statistical Exploration. - New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/upshot/comey-mccabe-tax-audits.html)
Damon: Confidence in U.S. Institutions Down; Average at New Low - Gallup (https://news.gallup.com/poll/394283/confidence-institutions-down-average-new-low.aspx)
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Jul 1, 2022 • 53min
The End of Roe and Trump's Pathology (with Peter Wehner & Ted Johnson)
The Atlantic's Peter Wehner joins the group (plus Ted Johnson) to discuss the reasoning and implications of the Dobbs decision. The panel then considers the impact of Cassidy Hutchinson and other testimony. Air going out of the Trump balloon?
Highlights & Lowlights:
Mona: Baltimore Police interns could help ease recruitment woes, improve community relations as pilot program launches - The Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/baltimore-police-interns-could-help-ease-recruitment-woes-improve-community-relations-as-pilot-program-launches/2022/06/27/dbb39ee4-f65d-11ec-b665-98b884bdef6e_story.html)
Linda: Supreme Court Sides With Biden’s Efforts to End ‘Remain in Mexico’ Program - New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/30/us/politics/biden-remain-in-mexico-scotus.html)
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Jun 24, 2022 • 58min
“Wintry realism.” (with David Frum)
The Atlantic’s David Frum joins the group to discuss the January 6 committee’s purpose and the prospects for a non-Trump in 2024. Plus, guns, the gas tax holiday, Uvalde, and Biden’s trip Saudi Arabia.
Highlights & Lowlights:
Mona: Prosecute Trump? Put Yourself in Merrick Garland’s Shoes. (New York Times) - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/20/opinion/trump-merrick-garland-january-6-committee.html
Linda: Will Biden Bring Back the Campus Star Chambers? (Commentary) - https://www.commentary.org/articles/kc-johnson/will-biden-resurrect-obama-era-title-ix-procedures/
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Jun 17, 2022 • 1h 13min
Republicans are Dangerous; Democrats are Ineffectual (with Charlie Sykes)
Charlie Sykes joins the group to discuss the January 6 hearings, Biden's record, and inflation (we warned about it!)
Highlights & Lowlights:
Mona: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/06/15/democratic-dark-money-extreme-republicans/
Linda: https://www.vox.com/23169861/daca-immigration-dreamer-democrats-united-we-dream
Damon: https://wisdomofcrowds.live/its-not-about-democracy/
Bill: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/14/opinion/germany-scholz-russia-ukraine.html
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