The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast

In episode 69, Charles talks to Luther Ray Abel about their Most Excellent Whizzbang American Roller-Coaster Adventure, which took them from Virginia to California, via Hersheypark, Cedar Point, Great America, Magic Mountain, and Disneyland, in both a Ford Bronco Raptor and a Ford Mustang Dark Horse, while wearing Hawaiian shirts every moment of the day.The dial-up tone in the introduction was recorded by lintphishx and is used under a CC 3.0 License.Show NotesThe PieceCharlie and Luther's Most Excellent Whizzbang American Roller-Coaster Adventure, in National Review.The CarsFord Bronco RaptorFord Mustang Dark HorseThe ParksHersheyparkCedar PointGreat AmericaMagic MountainDisneylandThe RoadsThe Pacific Coast HighwayThe CoastersCandymonium POVSkyrush POVGreat Beat POVFahrenheit POVStorm Runner POVWildcat's Revenge POVMillennium Force POVSteel Vengeance POVMaverick POVRaptor POVAmerican Eagle POVSuperman: Escape from Krypton POVGoliath POVBatman: The Ride POVTwisted Colossus POVTatsu POVWoman Woman: Flight of Courage POVNinja POVScream POVX2 POVWest Coast Racers POVApocalypse POVRiddler's Revenge POVFull Throttle POVRevolution POV

On episode 68, Charles talks to Keith Whittington, a professor at Yale Law School, about his new book, You Can't Teach That: The Battle over University Classrooms. Among the topics discussed are why universities are different than K-12 schools; why governments (and taxpayers) can't decide what is taught, given that they're paying the bill; how Civil Rights law intersects with academic free speech; and how to prevent universities from becoming ideological bubbles.The dial-up tone in the introduction was recorded by lintphishx and is used under a CC 3.0 License.

In a thought-provoking discussion, political columnist David French shares his evolving views on Kamala Harris, touching on his decision to support her despite previous reservations. He dives into the complexities surrounding candidates' qualifications, particularly contrasting Harris with Trump. The conversation also highlights the implications of the Ukraine conflict on global order, the nuanced debate on Florida's policies, and the intricate relationship between individual beliefs and party alignment. French's insights on these pressing topics provide a compelling look at today's political landscape.

On episode 66, Charles talks to Charles Fain Lehman about drugs and crime. Charles asks Charles to tell him why he's wrong about the drug war, why marijuana is different from alcohol, whether we should ban substances to protect people from themselves, what the problem is with "harm reduction," how bad the drug crisis is, whether we talk about it seriously, and why drugs are more potent now than they used to be. Afterwards, they talk about whether crime is going up or down, or whether the whole debate is partisan nonsense.The dial-up tone in the introduction was recorded by lintphishx and is used under a CC 3.0 License.

On episode 65, Charles talks to Randy Barnett about his memoir, A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist. Among the topics they discuss are: How did Randy get interested in the law? How did he become a law professor? What is an originalist? Why is he one? What sort of originalist is he? What was it like arguing before the Supreme Court? Why does he still defend the Lochner decision? Is he hopeful about the future of the Constitution?The dial-up tone in the introduction was recorded by lintphishx and is used under a CC 3.0 License.

On episode 64, Charles writes an opera for his most persistent critic, 'Boiling Rug,' and then talks to Clark Neily about the problem of coercive plea bargaining.The dial-up tone in the introduction was recorded by lintphishx and is used under a CC 3.0 License.

On episode 63, Charles talks to Wilfred Reilly about his new book, Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me: Debunking the False Narratives Defining America's School Curricula. Among the topics they discuss are: Who is this 'liberal teacher'? Why does Wilfred feel a need to argue about this? Are the people who tell these lies aware that they are doing it? What lies do conservative teachers tell? Is the problem fixable? The dial-up tone in the introduction was recorded by lintphishx and is used under a CC 3.0 License.

On episode 62, Charles tells tale of his difficult two weeks, and then talks to Andy McCarthy about the Trump conviction.The dial-up tone in the introduction was recorded by lintphishx and is used under a CC 3.0 License.

On episode 61, Charles talks to Rick Brookhiser about his new book, Glorious Lessons: John Trumbull, Painter of the American Revolution. Among the topics they discuss are: Was Trumbull a good painter? Was he regarded as such in his time? What did he hope to achieve? Why did he have such a tumultuous relationship with Thomas Jefferson? What is the thing that Rick likes the most about him and the thing he likes the least about him?The dial-up tone in the introduction was recorded by lintphishx and is used under a CC 3.0 License. 

Peter Robinson, speechwriter for President Reagan, discusses writing the iconic 'Tear Down This Wall' speech. They talk about Reagan's working style, the intense atmosphere before the speech, and reflections on women in power and societal shifts.