Know Your Enemy

Historian Ronnie Grinberg discusses her book on Jewish masculinity and the New York intellectuals, highlighting the impact on Cold War liberalism and neo-conservativism. The conversation explores gender, sexuality, and patriarchy in the intellectual landscape, shedding light on the scholars' deeper motivations. It delves into the development of a secular Jewish concept of masculinity and the challenges faced by women in intellectual circles.

Jewish intellectuals Irving Howe, Irving Kristol, and Daniel Bell from City College in the 1930s are discussed in this podcast. Topics include their influence on American politics and letters, personal rivalries, the history of the left, intellectuals in urgent times, and their relevance to America's right turn.

Writer B.D. McClay discusses why Republicans and the right are obsessed with Taylor Swift, her influence on American culture, and the controversy over leaked phone calls. They explore Taylor Swift Derangement Syndrome, her political stand, and her unique approach to fame and success. The conversation also delves into her musical artistry and comparisons with Bruce Springsteen.

Delve into the multigenerational saga of the Bozell family, from union-busting to Capitol riot participation. Explore the evolution of American conservatism through faith, fanaticism, and redemption. Unpack the legacy of a family marked by tragedy, farce, and decline in the postwar right-wing landscape.

Explore the right's century-long romance with foreign dictators from Kaiser Wilhelm to Mussolini. Discover the link between race science and fear of democracy, the pivot from Nazi revisionism to Cold War, and the consequences of neoconservatism. Unravel the distinction between authoritarianism and totalitarianism, and the potential disaster of a second Trump term.

Matt and Sam explore René Girard's insights on envy through Pope Francis's teachings, discussing the role of Christianity in addressing societal violence and inequality. They touch on Girard's attachment to Christianity, the politics of Jesus, and the looming apocalyptic violence he predicted.

Exploring the fascination with René Girard on the right, his theories on violence and social order, Christianity's uniqueness, and the impact on modernity. Connections to Peter Thiel, mimetic desire, social media, victimhood, and literary banter. Also, discussion on upcoming book release.

This podcast explores the taboo surrounding biological racism on the contemporary right and the shift towards scientific racism. It discusses the mobilization of far-right media personalities and speculates about the upcoming release of FBI files on Martin Luther King Jr.

Exploring the efforts to identify and train staff for a potential second Trump administration, focusing on conservative intellectual organizations and their changing dynamics with the White House. Discussions include personal anecdotes and insights, the influence of conservative groups in the Trump era, power struggles and personal relationships in the administration, and the staffing question for Trump's potential second term.

Subscribe to Know Your Enemy on Patreon to listen to this premium episode, and all of our bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/knowyourenemyJourneyman actor Peter Crombie, who appeared in films such as Seven, Born on the Fourth of July, and Natural Born Killers, died earlier this month, on January 10, 2024, at the age of 71. But his most famous, or at least memorable, role probably was his five-episode arc in season four of Seinfeld as "Crazy" Joe Davola, a struggling writer who becomes obsessed with Elaine and believes Jerry is sabotaging his career.The "Crazy" Joe Davola episodes come at a major turning point in Seinfeld's nine seasons. The grittier, nearly vanished working-class New York City that's depicted in its earliest episodes, filled with dingy laundromats, struggling actors, immigrant relatives, and people who are literally poor, begins to drop out of view as Jerry's career takes off and the settings, references, and concerns of the show becomes more absurd and removed from the day to day life of ordinary people in Manhattan and beyond.Using the death of Peter Crombie as the thinnest of excuses to do an episode on the politics of Seinfeld, Matt was joined by KYE producer Jesse Brenneman and historian Gabe Winant to explain its "Jewish humor"; how the class politics of New York City in the 70s and 80s informed the show; the deeper meaning of its many references to dictators, Nazis, communists, and others; the Dinkins vs. Giuliani race for mayor; and more!