Know Your Enemy

Matt and Sam watch the wonderful 1998 documentary "Arguing the World" — and go deep on Irving Howe, Irving Kristol, Daniel Bell, and Nathan Glazer.

Matt and Sam talk to B.D. McClay about the right's deranged freakout over Taylor Swift — and what she can tell us about American fame, fortune, and fear.

Matt and Sam discuss a conservative family saga for the ages — the Bozells — in a classic KYE episode unlocked from the Patreon.

Matt and Sam talk to Jacob Heilbrunn about his new book, America Last: The Right's Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators.

Matt and Sam return to René Girard via Pope Francis—whom Matt personally met at a recent general audience at the Vatican! Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest.

Matt and Sam welcome back John Ganz to discuss René Girard, the Stanford polymath whose theory of "mimetic desire," violence, and the meaning of secular modernity has inspired a devoted following—including Peter Thiel, Girard's former student.

What is the relationship between the "right" and the "far right?" Matt and Sam return to questions of historiography. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest.

Matt and Sam explore how movement conservatives — and their think tanks — are preparing for a second Trump administration.

Matt is joined by historian Gabe Winant and Know Your Enemy producer Jesse Brenneman to discuss the politics of Seinfeld.

Matt and Sam are joined by historian Kim Phillips-Fein to discuss the "state of the field" of historical studies of American conservatism. How has the study of the right changed since 2016? And how should it orient itself to 2024?

Writer Osita Nwanevu joins to discuss the life and work of novelist and "new journalist" Tom Wolfe.

Matt and Sam welcome historian Erik Baker onto the podcast to discuss Garry Wills's blistering critique of the national security state and unaccountable presidential power in his 2010 book, Bomb Power.

Matt and Sam interview historian Jennifer Burns about her new biography of Nobel Prize-winning economist and libertarian intellectual Milton Friedman.

KYE Latin America correspondent David Adler returns to breakdown the (terrible) election results from Argentina.

Matt and Sam discuss Garry Wills's 1982 book, The Kennedy Imprisonment, with the Nation's Jeet Heer.

Some more answers to listener mail! Subscribe on Patreon.com/knowyourenemy to hear the rest.

Matt and Sam answer listener questions—about topics ranging from the influence of post-liberal intellectuals on the right to their favorite Willie Nelson albums—in the podcast's annual mailbag episode.

John Ganz returns to discuss William F. Buckley's 1992 book "In Search of Anti-Semitism."

Eric Levitz of New York Magazine joins to discuss the fate of Kevin McCarthy and the GOP meltdown in Congress. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest.

Matt and Sam suffer through the second GOP debate — and Trump's deceptive counter-programing. Sign up on Patreon to hear the rest!

We discuss the contradictory history of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) — and how to make sense of its recent showdown with Elon Musk — with Mari Cohen, Alex Kane, and Peter Beinart of Jewish Currents.

Matt and Sam read the Trump indictments and weigh the risks and rewards of criminally charging a former president. (Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!)

Matt and Sam welcome Yale professor Samuel Moyn back to the podcast to discuss his new book, Liberalism Against Itself: Cold War Intellectuals and the Making of Our Times.

Matt and Sam breakdown the first GOP presidential debate of 2024. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest of this episode!

Matt and Sam discuss former KYE guest and disgraced DeSantis speechwriter Nate Hochman — fired for sharing a neo-nazi meme. What is going on with young conservatives?

Matt and Sam are joined by writer/editor Sophie Haigney to discuss why (some) conservatives love the Grateful Dead — and why we do too. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!

Matt and Sam join Moira Donegan and Adrian Daub to discuss the life and work of the late Midge Decter, a neoconservative icon and anti-feminist.

Matt and Sam discuss HBO's The Righteous Gemstones with Know Your Enemy producer Jesse Brenneman. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!

Matt and Sam finally get to talk about the lawsuit that's been hanging over the podcast; then we turn to analyze three devastating SCOTUS rulings from last month.

Sam joins Patrick Blanchfield and Abby Kluchin for a lengthy discussion of psychoanalysis, conservative minds, and Janet Malcolm — on their excellent new podcast, "Ordinary Unhappiness."

Matt and Sam are joined by writer Phil Christman to discuss the limits of "manhood" as a lens for thinking about how to be a good person. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!

Matt and Sam talk Pat Robertson (RIP), James G. Watt (RIP), and how they shaped the Christian right. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest.

Matt and Sam explore the "crisis of masculinity" in America — reading books on the subject by Senator Josh Hawley and Harvard political theorist Harvey Mansfield.

Matt and Sam sit down for some rank punditry about the state of the 2024 presidential race. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest.

Matt and Sam talk to two television writers, Will Arbery of "Succession" and Dorothy Fortenberry of "Extrapolations," about how they approach political topics and themes on their shows, and close out the conversation with a discussion of the WGA strike.

Matt and Sam discuss Matt's recent Dissent essay on the January 6th Committee report. Sign up on Patreon.com/knowyourenemy to hear the rest.

Matt and Sam are joined by the ACLU's Gillian Branstetter to discuss the ignominious career of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

The great Sam Tanenhaus, biographer of Whittaker Chambers and William F. Buckley Jr., returns to the podcast. Sign up on Patreon.com/knowyourenemy to hear the rest.

Matt and Sam are joined by songwriter and composer Will Epstein to talk about Bob Dylan's recent book, "The Philosophy of Modern Song."

Matt talks to University of Virginia theologian Dr. Nichole M. Flores about her book, The Aesthetics of Solidarity: Our Lady of Guadalupe and American Democracy.

Matt talks to Catholic theologian and Emory University professor Dr. Susan Bigelow Reynolds about her new book, People Get Ready: Ritual, Solidarity, and Lived Ecclesiology in Catholic Roxbury.

Matt and Sam discuss the life and times of Whittaker Chambers, the Communist spy who became a conservative hero.

Tim Shenk joins to discuss his book "Realigners: Partisan Hacks, Political Visionaries, and the Struggle to Rule American Democracy."

Sam is joined by Jamelle Bouie and John Ganz to discuss the Cold War espionage thrillers of John le Carre and the 1984 film "The Little Drummer Girl." Sign up on Patreon to hear the rest.

Hannah Zeavin and Alex Colston join to discuss Philip Rieff, his book "The Triumph of the Therapeutic: Uses of Faith After Freud," and the conservative side of psychoanalysis.

In this bonus episode, Timothy Shenk joins Matt and Sam to discuss his book on American political "realignments" and the men and women who made them.

Matt and Sam are joined by KYE producer Jesse Brenneman to discuss “Walker, Texas Ranger,” Chuck Norris's hit CBS crime/action show — treating it as an ur-text of 1990s Americana & conservative values.

Matt is joined by America Magazine's national correspondent, Michael O'Loughlin, for a conversation about the late Pope Benedict XVI. Listen to the entire conversation by subscribing to Know Your Enemy on Patreon!

Matt and Sam talk Bob Dylan, the late 1970s, and Christianity with Ian and Evan of the Jokermen podcast.

Matt and Sam talk to historian Beverly Gage about her new biography of J. Edgar Hoover.

Some more from the mailbag!!!

Matt and Sam answer listener questions about religion and the left, literature, white Christian nationalism, conspiracy theories, and more.

Matt and Sam talk with Joe Calvello, Director of Communications for John Fetterman's victorious Senate campaign in Pennsylvania.

Matt and Sam analyze the 2022 midterms. What the hell just happened?

Matt and Sam discuss Garry Wills's 1970 masterpiece of political reporting and analysis, "Nixon Agonistes."

Sam talked to Aaron Kleinman of The States Project about the battle to defend American democracy at the state level. Subscribe on patreon.com/knowyourenemy to hear the rest.

Matt and Sam talk to David Roth about baseball, why conservatives love it, and why we do too.

Sam is joined by David Broder to discuss the recent victory of neo-fascist Giorgia Meloni in Italian general elections. Subscribe on patreon.com/knowyourenemy to hear the rest.

John Ganz joins Matt and Sam for a characteristically spirited discussion of The Claremont Institute's fellowship for county sheriffs. Subscribe on patreon.com/knowyourenemy to hear the rest.

Matt and Sam talk to Damon Linker about the George W. Bush administration and the conservative religious publication First Things, his own Straussian-tinged skeptical politics, and how today's Right became so deranged.

Matt and Sam are joined by writer Alex Press and historian Gabe Winant to discuss the life and legacy of socialist feminist icon Barbara Ehrenreich.

Matt and Sam talk to Nicole Hemmer about her new book, Partisans: The Conservative Revolutionaries Who Remade American Politics in the 1990s.

Matt and Sam bring you the latest from the “caesarist” wing of the conservative movement: including a new piece on the Claremont Institute and Sam's profile of Blake Masters. Subscribe on patreon.com/knowyourenemy to hear the rest.

Matt and Sam are joined by writer and editor Chris Lehmann to discuss the life and work of Christopher Lasch.

Matt is joined by John Huntington, author of "Far-Right Vanguard: The Radical Roots of Modern Conservatism." Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!

Matt answers questions about his intellectual, political, and spiritual journey on the Plastic Pills podcast.

Matt and Sam conclude their in-depth exploration of the overturning Roe v. Wade, this time focusing on the way conservative intellectuals helped bridge the gap between the religious right and the institutional GOP.

Matt and Sam are interviewed by Daniel Denvir of The Dig — a Jacobin magazine podcast — about the state of the American Right.

Matt and Sam dig into the origins of the Christian right, their eventual embrace of anti-abortion politics, and how they joined forces with the GOP.

Matt and Sam are joined by Peter, Rhiannon, and Michael from the 5-4 podcast to discuss the impending end of Roe v. Wade, especially the conservative legal movement's role and the right's use of the courts in how we got here.

Sam's conversation with David Adler and Thea Riofrancos about the return of the Latin American left — unlocked from Patreon in advance of hugely consequential elections in Colombia this weekend!!

Matt and Sam talk about this week's Pennsylvania primaries—especially Lt. Gov. John Fetterman's big win in the Democratic Senate race—then turn to the prospects for J.D. Vance and Blake Masters, Peter Thiel's chosen GOP Senate candidates in Ohio and Arizona, respectively.

Sam discusses the return of the Latin American left with political scientist Thea Riofrancos and David Adler, the General Coordinator of the Progressive International.

Matt and Sam are joined by Sarah Weinman to discuss her new book, Scoundrel—a gripping account of William F. Buckley, Jr.'s unlikely, ill-fated advocacy on behalf of a death-row prisoner with literary ambitions.

Matt and Sam are joined by labor historian Gabriel Winant to discuss what the populist right gets wrong about the history of the American working class.

Matt and Sam talk to Paris-based journalist Cole Stangler about the French presidential election.

Matt and Sam talk to Michael Kazin about his new book, What It Took To Win: A History Of The Democratic Party.

Matt and Sam are joined by KYE all-star John Ganz to discuss Compact: A Radical American Journal, a new publication combining left-wing economics and right-wing culture war.

Matt and Sam are joined by Ari Brostoff to discuss David Horowitz's 1996 memoir, Radical Son, his account of leaving the New Left and embracing the Right.

Matt and Sam talk to writer and advocate Gillian Branstetter about the right's war on trans people and their rights.

Sam talks to Buzzfeed's Joe Bernstein about the "disinformation industry" and why Peter Thiel is funding anti-woke art in New York City.

Matt and Sam welcome back Jamelle Bouie to discuss the rise of rhetoric—not only but especially from the right—about a "second Civil War" in the United States.

Matt and Sam talk to Michelle Nickerson about her book about conservative women political activists in postwar southern California, Mothers of Conservatism.

Matt talks to writer Phil Christman about his new essay collection, "How To Be Normal" — addressing religious fundamentalism, Christian conspiracy theories about rock music, Mark Fisher, impersonal love, and much more.

Matt and Sam are joined by writer and education expert Jennifer Berkshire to discuss the right's long war on public schools.

Matt and Sam are joined by Jay Caspian Kang to discuss identity politics, critical race theory, and cancel culture (oh my!). Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!

Matt and Sam are joined by Sam Tanenhaus to make sense of Joan Didion's conservatism: her Sacramento roots, her early writing for National Review, why she loved Barry Goldwater (and hated Ronald Reagan), and much, much more.

In honor of 2022's infancy — and as we recover from the bitter end of 2021 — we're unlocking this much-loved bonus episode on Freud and politics, featuring Pat Blanchfield.

Matt and Sam answer listener questions about Garry Wills, "human nature," how/whether to interview conservatives, Nixon, Bob Dylan, and bourbon.

Matt and Sam sit down with Nate Hochman, a rising star on the intellectual Right, to discuss what's driving young conservatives today, where the Right and Left might agree, and, especially, where they don't.

Sam and returning guest Pat Blanchfield discuss how psychoanalytic tools can help us make sense of our irrational political moment. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!

Matt and Sam are your guides on a tour of the deranged National Conservatism 2 conference.

Matt talks with playwright Ben Firke about I Am The GooseKing, which just finished its debut run at The Tank theater in New York City.

Matt and Sam dive deep into the eccentric life and fascinating work of Frank S. Meyer, a longtime senior editor at National Review who became most famous for his theory of "fusionism."

Matt and Sam talk to the Washington Post's David Weigel about his approach to reporting on American politics, left and right, and what he's learned during his travels across the country.

Matt and Sam are joined by Lauren Stokes and John Ganz to discuss the American Right's love affair with Viktor Orbán's Hungary.

Matt is joined by Sarah Jones to discuss her recent essay, "An Atheist Reconsiders God in the Pandemic."

In this subscribers-only episode, Matt and Sam are joined by Rhiannon from the 5-4 podcast's to discuss Texas's ghastly new anti-abortion bill. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!

In this subscribers-only episode, Matt and Sam discuss the latest revelations about the Trumpist plot to steal the presidency, the madness of anti-vaxx derangement syndrome among conservatives, and the fate of Biden's Build Back Better agenda.