The Ricochet Podcast

Peter's back! After a whole summer away, he, James and Steve have quite a bit to catch up on. What more is there to say? - Opening soundbite this week: FNC’s Peter Doocy spars with KJP at the White House

The contemporary social planner seems to favor all sorts of peoples' movements—except for the kind that involves automobiles, driven by citizens away from dense urban cores into the suburbs that they can afford. Today, Joel Kotkin (author of The Human City and The Coming of Neo-Feudalism) joins the podcast to discuss the new class of urbanists who brim with ideas for a city that won't work for the people meant to occupy them.Plus, Steve, James and Charlie quibble over Tuesday's debate, and they reflect on another 9/11 anniversary. - Soundclip from this week's open: Donald Trump and David Muir from ABC's Trump/Harris debate.

They say Labor Day marks the ordinary American's starting point for following a particular election cycle, setting off a scramble for undecides by campaigners and a busy couple of months for pollsters. Henry Olsen returns to discuss where things stand in the presidential race as we head toward the first debate; he offers some potential outcomes that will determine the extent of the Republican majority in the Senate; and he expands on his piece about the populist parties' successes in eastern Germany, explaining "Ostalgie," and detailing the adjustments mainstream parties will have to make if they want to maintain stability in the West.Plus, James and Charlie are emphatically pro-Churchill.- This week’s opening sound: Darryl Cooper's take on Winston Churchill in an interview with Tucker Carlson.

It's a big legal stuff week for Donald Trump. Naturally, we phoned our pal Andy McCarthy. Andy brings breaking news on Judge Merchan’s sentencing schedule, his hot take on Jack Smith’s superseding indictment in the election interference case, and adds a detailed reaction to Mark Zuckerberg’s admission of acquiescing to censorship pressure from government officials. Plus: Charlie, Steve, and James weigh in on Harris's airy interview, wonder (again) who's running the country, and ramble on the many curiosities to be found in Iceland—from cute cuisine and baffling museums to monuments of the anonymous meddlers that make up the amorphous blob. - Sound this week: CNN’s Dana Bash “grills” Kamala Harris with multiple choice quiz.

The discussion kicks off with reflections on the recent Democratic National Convention and the impact of celebrity culture on politics. The hosts share amusing tales from Rob's 1992 campaign, featuring anecdotes involving Murphy Brown and Rush Limbaugh. They also tackle perceptions of crime in relation to illegal immigration, along with strategies for maintaining political power. Venturing into the Amazon, they unveil humorously harrowing stories of wildlife dangers, blending adventure with political commentary and personal narratives.

Charles Gasparino, a Fox Business correspondent known for his sharp insights on corporate America, dives into his book "Go Woke, Go Broke." He discusses how corporate radicalization is unfolding and the backlash faced by brands like Budweiser and Target over their progressive marketing. The conversation also tackles Kamala Harris's economic proposals and the absurdity behind them, alongside a critique of housing subsidies and government policy failures. The hosts balance this serious talk with lighthearted banter about their fantasy football league.

There's a lot of joy in the air. Or so we're told by the Jolly Dad VP nominee Tim Walz. To step past the vibes for a moment, we talk with John H. Hinderaker, president of the Minneapolis-based Center of the American Experiment. He takes us through the methods and policies of Governor Walz, which reveal a less-than-pleasant character.Plus, he sticks around with James, Steve, and "Lucretia" to discuss the 50th anniversary of Richard Nixon's departure from the White House.

Yuval Levin joins James, Rob and John Yoo to remind us of the Constitution's unifying purpose in the era of polarization and mutually held suspicions between the parties. His latest book, American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation―and Could Again, disputes the prevailing pessimism as well as passive optimism, settling instead on a hopeful case for American coalition building.Plus, the hosts discuss Kamala Harris's strange campaign strategy of running on "her" record, wonder why the kids are skeptical of abundance, and consider the appeal of 15-minute cities.

Back in 2002, Ruy Teixeira took note of demographic trends that spelled good news for the Democratic Party's 21st-century prospects. Just two decades after the release of The Emerging Democratic Majority, he found himself wondering something else entirely: Where Have All the Democrats Gone?  With what appears to be the coronation of Kamala Harris, he and the gang consider how pessimism, disorderliness, and faculty lounge talk have thrown America's political coalitions for a loop.Plus: Steve, James, and Rob finally get a chance to respond to the news that broke shortly after they wrapped last week; they make a couple of predictions for the VP's VP pick; and James calls on all Ricochet rhythmists to send the songs! (Buck Dharma kicks things off with "End of Every Song")- Opening sounds: Bibi Goes to Washington, Biden “Becomes” Washington, Kamala cracks up

Another crazy week in American politics, another milestone. The Ricochet Podcast hits the 700-episode mark, and the chatter continues. Ann Coulter drops in — more briefly than expected, due to technical issues — to give us her hot take on the Republican National Convention. Then James, Steve, and Rob debate the Republican platform for the 21st century, find common ground on brass bands and Doric columns, and reflect on the passing of Bob Newhart. - Opening sound this week: Trump makes his acceptance speech, Fox 32 (Chicago) talks pollingNEW