The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast

On episode 49—so called because there have been 48 others—Charles talks to Russ Roberts, the host of the EconTalk podcast and the president of Shalem College in Jerusalem. Among the topics they discuss are: What life has been like in Jerusalem since October 7; why Russ started a podcast so early; why he's less interested in economics than he used to be; how strongly he holds his views; whether individuals who do well in the free market 'deserve' it; which economic concepts are hardest to convey; why he doesn't call himself a 'libertarian'; why it's important to live 'like an artist'; and whether the West is going to make it in the long run.The dial-up tone in the introduction was recorded by lintphishx and is used under a CC 3.0 License.

Charles discusses the Jacksonville Jaguars' victory before diving into the core of America's system of government: the separation of powers. The podcast explores the significance of separation of powers, the paradox of independence in federal agencies, the unitary executive theory, the direction of separation of powers, and the implications of the Chevron doctrine.

Political analyst and author Ruy Texeira discusses the current state of the Democratic Party with host Charles. They explore the 'shadow Democratic Party,' the soul of the party, Bill Clinton's successes, and the impact of abortion on Republicans. They also analyze the Virginia elections and debate whether demography is destiny.

Discussions on the horrors of October 7, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Hamas's actions, Israel's strategic preparations, the US-Israel alliance, and the interplay of American politics with the Israel-Gaza conflict.

In this episode, Yascha Mounk discusses his book on identity politics and its rapid spread. They explore the origins and negative consequences of identity politics, its influence on education, and the challenges of defending political moderation against radicalism.

On episode 44, Charles talks to NPR's Steve Inskeep about his excellent new book on Abraham Lincoln, Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America. Among the topics discussed are whether the book is a call for engagement in the modern era, whether practical politics gets a bad rap, what Lincoln really thought about African-Americans, whether Lincoln intuited that he was going die in office, what challenges are presented by the fact that Lincoln was murdered when he was, whether Lincoln's occasional dishonesty was justified, and what class-based "equality" meant in his era.The dial-up tone in the introduction was recorded by lintphishx and is used under a CC 3.0 License.

Heather Mac Donald discusses her book on race and merit, challenging diversity policies in institutions and standardized testing. They explore the impact of deconstructing Western art, evolution of literature, and addressing discrimination in universities.

On episode 42, Charles answers a question about the game of Rugby, and then talks to Douglas Brunt about his fascinating new book about Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine and, at one point, one of the most famous and interesting people in the world. Among the questions asked are: Why have we not heard more about Diesel? What sort of world was he inventing in? Why were the world's militaries so interested in his work? What did he believe in? What did he think of America? Did he get on with Thomas Edison? How did he come up with the idea for his engine? How did he disappear—and what are the main theories as to how it happened?The book is The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I.The dial-up tone in the introduction was recorded by lintphishx and is used under a CC 3.0 License.

Explore the concept of Cold War 2.0 between the US and China, the shifting dynamics in their relationship, and the potential for a second Cold War. Delve into the history of empires and their influence on historical records. Examine the perception of America among Chinese people and analyze the potential duration and outcomes of Cold War II.

Winkfield Twyman Jr., author of Letters in Black and White, and Jennifer Richmond discuss their groundbreaking book on race in America, exploring topics such as racial solidarity, improved conditions for African-Americans, and the value of 'Old Americans' in moving forward. They also touch on concerns about critical race theory and the importance of having authentic conversations about race. The chapter highlights refraining from engaging with online bullies and emphasizes substantive conversations over meaningless Twitter banter. Parallels with China's cultural revolution and concerns about education and authoritarianism are also discussed.