Two housekeeping notes before we dive into the anti-Semitism (just in time for Hanukkah!). 1) Tomorrow is our monthly Second Sunday Zoom call with paying subscribers. It will take place at noon ET; link TK. The default assumption for these blessed events is that they will NOT be released after; it’s a strictly be-there-or-FOMO situation.
2) You have seen that we now have a merch store. Well, because you people are lunatics living embodiments of pent-up demand, each of the four types of physical item there are now sold out. But wait! We’re still taking pre-orders for a fresh batch of the new-logo tees that will be printed and shipped in January. Also, producer Jason, who capitalizes weirdly, sez that “At an indeterminate date in the new year, we will have Fresh designs, and an international shipping option.” Finally, he stresses that: “We would be very interested to hear what type of stuff people want (personally, I’m more interested in the type of item—hats, totes, mugs) than specific design ideas).” Act accordingly!
* Moynihan has mentioned a time or three on the podcast the near-impossible task of debating or interviewing a monomaniacal, true-believer conspiracy theorist, such as Holocaust denier David Irving. Well, then, what about David Irving’s torch-carrying grandson? Like, literally?
* Keeping on the theme, Ol’ Hollywood also this week interviewed our pal Jamie Kirchick (veteran of Episodes #55, #347 and #394), on the question of, “Is Tucker Carlson the MOST dangerous antisemite in America?”
* The ongoing conservative media crackup (in part over things related to Israel and anti-Semitism) continues to ongo. On Thursday, I was invited on the podcast of resident sportsballer Ethan Strauss (#185, #333, #383, Members Only #151, #408) to take a Fifth Column semi-victory lap on same, as well as talk about Chris Rufo (#322), interacting with fans, audience capture vs. criticism capture, the great Bill James, and (oh yeah) the Hall of Fame selection of fellow born-in-Bellflower-in-1968er Jeff Kent:
* In both the Strauss convo and Episode #536 w/ the broadcaster-voiced Dan Abrams, there were comparisons made between the 2025 conservative media crack-up and the Woke nervous breakdowns circa 2020. Sometimes I think the culture zooms too quickly over the latter insanity. Cue up this week’s barnburner of a Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em podcast, where the Wall Street Journal’s Pamela Paul dishes to Sarah Hepola (#354) and Nancy Rommelmann (#79, Special Dispatch #27, S.D. #30, #198, #203, S.D. #34, S.D. #50, S.D. #64, S.D. #111) about being forced out from the New York Times op-ed page, after having written (controversially, at least inside the building and within swaths of the media biz) about
people whose lives or work had come under attack, whether they were public figures or were dragged into the public eye because they’d dared to speak or act in ways that unjustly elicited professional or social condemnation: A popular novelist ostracized for alleged “cultural appropriation.” A physician assistant who was excoriated on social media for standing up to bullies. A Palestinian writer whose appearance at a prominent book fair was canceled. An early beneficiary of affirmative action who dared to explore its unintended consequences. Vulnerable gay teenagers who described being misled by a politicized medical establishment into dubious gender transition treatments. A public university president who was driven away by a campus besieged with political division. Social work students and faculty members undermined by a school that had betrayed its own principles. A public health expert who risked opprobrium from his peers by calling out his profession on groupthink.
Lil’ clip:
* The aforementioned House of Strauss conversation occasioned a very mild updating of The View Level, the micro-Substack where I store all of my baseball-related writing from the past quarter-century. Please check out the archives, for those who enjoy such things. Seems I get a burr in my saddle to research & write about baseball every damn December, for some reason….
* Last add me: The Reason Roundtable editors converted my comments about the White House’s new National Security Strategy (which we talked about here on M.O. #290) into a little chop-clip deal:
* For those whose thirst for content about A.I. was not fully slaked by the 118 minutes with Andy Mills in M.O. #289, here’s another 103 minutes over at Kmele’s side-hustle. (And yes, I’ll be publishing some of your thoughtful emails on same in a forthcoming Mailbucket):
* ‘Tis the season, so a couple of reminders from the archives: “Jews Wrote Your Favorite Christmas Songs,” Eli Lake (#52, #65, #141, #174, S.D. #51, #326, #368, #407, M.O. #184, M.O. #244) memorably informed us at The Free Press last year; and way back in 2022, our Ask a Jew galpals Chaya Leah Sufrin and Yael Bar tur had on Rabbi David Komerofsky to Jewsplain Christmas music. Here’s Chaya Leah & some other Fifth Column listeners at a recent meetup in Boston!
* Beloved listener Jeremy Kareken wrote a funny piece this week for The I Paper titled “I’m an American and This Is My First British Winter – You Lot Are Incredibly Odd.” Excerpt:
Here’s what I’ve noticed so far.
You have tumble dryers, but refuse to turn them on
Do you know what a tumble dryer is? It’s the appliance that productive economies use to dry their clothes. On this sceptred isle, after you wash your clothes, it seems to be customary to give them a second soak by letting them steep in the mizzle, or perch them on something called a “clothes horse” in your kitchen, bedroom or hallway.
Where I’m from, a tumble dry is no big thing. My mother used to throw my winter coat or jumper in the dryer before (and after) I went out to play. And yes, despite your horror, we even use them in the summer. Why? Because they work and that’s what they’re there for. Wouldn’t it be nice to get your kid’s damp socks dry by the time they’re due at school?
You claim that tumble dryers ruin clothes, but the appliance manufacturers had this crazy idea back in 1946: temperature control. It’s the heat that ruins clothes, so when you throw your damp accoutrements on a radiator, you’re doing the same thing. The tumble dryer whisks away the moisture and throws it outside, where it belongs: truly a wonderful machine. It might even cut down on the mould problem you folks are always going on about.
* Comment of the Week comes from Jonathan Rogers:
51:48 BTW, my dad was kidnapped by Surinamese rebel leader Ronnie Brunswijk in the 1980s. My dad was soon released under international pressure. Brunswijk would later be convicted of drug trafficking and become the vice president of Suriname. […]
I hadn’t looked for news coverage before because I knew the story personally, but here’s a short article: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-09-mn-14583-story.html
That AP story contains a surprising number of errors considering how short it is. The surname is “Rogers” without a “d,” like Mr. Fred Rogers. The organization is “Mission Aviation Fellowship.” Daniel is not from Des Moines, though we lived there for a few months because a supporting church was there.
That news story doesn’t contain the most interesting parts IMHO. Rebel leader Ronnie Brunswijk wanted to learn to fly the captured Cessna 206 after his hired pilot left. Fortunately, my dad had just become a Certified Flight Instructor and trained Brunswijk while he was there. He says Ronnie was a quick learner, but there just wasn’t enough time. Soon after my dad was released, Brunswijk flew the plane and crashed on landing. Later, a team from the mission organization was able to retrieve it and it was put back into service after repairs. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/163903
Walkoff music by an Argentinian I’d never heard of a comes from the string-gathering for my annual People Who Died exercise:
BTW, greatly valued the chat with Irving's grandson and how Moyn conducted that interview.
That kid is extremely full of shit.
Batya. So hot. So dumb.