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Hold These Truths with Dan Crenshaw

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Congressman Dan Crenshaw joins the world's leading experts for deep and insightful conversations about the most important issues facing us today.

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United States

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Congressman Dan Crenshaw joins the world's leading experts for deep and insightful conversations about the most important issues facing us today.

Language:

English


Episodes
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SITREP #8: Trump Talks to Putin, Judges Meddle in the Executive Branch, & Goodbye Pennies

2/13/2025
The Situation Report for February 6 – 12. Rep. Crenshaw breaks down the latest developments in U.S. – Mexico relations. He covers President Trump’s most important moves in domestic and foreign policy. He analyzes the blitz of stays issued by federal judges against Trump’s executive orders – and whether they have any constitutional merit. And he explains why Elon Musk and Sam Altman’s battle over OpenAI could have long term implications for the United States. All the real news and clear analysis you need to know in less than 30 minutes. The Mexican Senate approves additional U.S. Special Forces to train the Mexican Marines. It’s officially the GULF OF AMERICA! Trump halts penny production, saving the U.S. hundreds of millions of dollars. Reviewing the constitutional merit of federal district judges putting stays on Trump’s executive orders. Hamas delays the hostage deal and Trump strikes back. The Kingdom of Jordan offers to take in Palestinian children. Turmoil among the tech tycoons: Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and the battle for control over American AI. Trump and DOGE close the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Trump opens negotiations with Putin over Ukraine.

Duration:00:29:29

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Eliminate the Department of Education? A Conversation with Dr. Beth Akers

2/8/2025
Following this week’s major reforms at USAID, the Trump Administration has signaled that the Department of Education (DoEd) is next on the chopping block. Education expert Dr. Beth Akers joined Rep. Crenshaw to discuss the implications of eliminating DoEd, some much needed reforms to student loan programs, and the pathway to empowering parents and local communities to revamp K-12 education. Dr. Beth Akers is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on the economics of higher education. She is the author of Making College Pay: An Economist Explains How to Make a Smart Bet on Higher Education. Follow her on X at @DrBethAkers. The layman’s explanation of what the DoEd does Would eliminating the DoEd end education grants? What happens if the DoEd is eliminated? Stats on student loan debt Who benefits from student loan forgiveness? The correlation between student loans and rising tuition Should university endowment programs be taxed? Streamlining student loan programs Opening PELL grants to trade schools and other pathways to a successful career The debate over school choice Rethinking K-12 education and turning state education curriculums into labs of democracy How the USAID reforms are paving the way for broader changes

Duration:00:53:53

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SITREP #7: Tariff Battles, Panama Canal, USAID, & “The Gaza Riviera”

2/6/2025
The Situation Report for January 24 – February 5th. Rep. Crenshaw analyzes the recent tariff battles with Colombia, Mexico, and Canada. He covers the U.S. interest in the Panama Canal and how China became a major player in the region. And he explains everything you need to know about what DOGE exposed at USAID and President Trump’s huge announcement about his vision for the future of Gaza and the Middle East. All the real news and clear analysis you need to know in less than 30 minutes. How the tariff battles with Colombia, Mexico, and Canada played out Hope on the horizon for Mexico’s cooperation in fighting the cartels Why the Panama Canal matters to us China’s influence over the Panama Canal DOGE and USAID: The good, bad, and ugly sides of U.S. foreign aid Trump makes moves to dismantle the Department of Education The implications of Trump’s major announcement about Gaza The rationale for redeveloping Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” The latest on Trump’s cabinet nominations The HALT Fentanyl Act Recommended reading: The US Looks South

Duration:00:24:58

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A Rebel’s Guide to Defeating the British Army | Dr. Alexander Burns

1/31/2025
Dr. Alexander Burns joined Rep. Crenshaw for a fascinating conversation about the evolution of 18 century warfare, General Washington’s battlefield tactics, the age-old conflict between officers and common soldiers, and the beginning of the American military. Dr. Alexander Burns is an Assistant Professor of History at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he specializes in 18 century conflict in North America and Europe. He is the author of Infantry in Battle, 1733-1783. Follow him on X at @KKriegeBlog. Grade inflation and student entitlement in higher education How to research like a military historian What we learn from letters of the common British soldier The conflict between officers and enlisted men over battlefield tactics Was there an honor code against killing officers? What Paul Revere really said How the British soldiers viewed the American rebels How the Continental Army began Beginning of the Continental Congress General Washington’s battlefield tactics Guerrilla warfare The role of cavalry in revolutionary combat The American long rifle How many Americans actually wanted independence? The turning point of the Revolutionary War The French Army comes to America How the American military professionalized The War of 1812 America invades Canada How close did General Washington get to the battlefront? Can we derive lessons from the Revolutionary War for modern warfare?

Duration:01:20:36

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The First 100 Days: Entering a New Conservative Golden Age | Lila Rose

1/24/2025
Special cross post episode with The Lila Rose Podcast. Friday, January 24 marks the annual March for Life, when tens of thousands of activists gather in Washington, DC to celebrate and raise awareness about the pro-life movement. Live Action’s Lila Rose joined Rep. Crenshaw (and his daughter Suzy) in his congressional office to talk about expectations for the first 100 days of the new Trump Administration. They cover pro-life executive orders and policies that could potentially be re-instated. They discuss how budget reconciliation and economic policies might affect everything from abortion policy to tax cuts to government spending. Rep. Crenshaw discusses his work to defund gender transition procedures for minors and destroy the Mexican drug cartels. And they end with a conversation about the U.S. interest in supporting Israel against Hamas terrorists. Lila Rose is the Founder and President of Live Action, a non-profit dedicated to pro-life advocacy. Follow her on X at @lilagracerose and Instagram at @lilaroseofficial. Subscribe to The Lila Rose Podcast on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify

Duration:00:51:14

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SITREP #6: Trump’s First Days as 47, America’s Artificial Intelligence Gets a Boost, and Return to the Moon

1/24/2025
Situation Report for January 24th, 2025. Rep. Crenshaw breaks down the week’s top stories from the U.S. and around the world. Your one stop shop for real news and clear analysis of the latest congressional legislation and how it impacts your life. · · · · · · · Recommended reading: Noah Rothman on “The Resistance Left’s Addiction to Hyperbole”

Duration:00:11:37

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SITREP #5: Pete Hegseth’s Senate Hearing, Devastation in LA, & the TikTok Shutdown

1/16/2025
Situation Report for January 16, 2025. Rep. Crenshaw breaks down the week’s top stories from the U.S. and around the world. Your one stop shop for real news and clear analysis of the latest congressional legislation and how it impacts your life. Why Congress needs a Select Committee on the Cartels. Read my latest oped for Fox News here

Duration:00:13:47

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Reversing Four Years of Bad Energy Policy | Mike Sommers

1/10/2025
American Petroleum Institute’s Mike Sommers returns to Hold These Truths to survey the past four years of the Biden-Harris Administration’s most devastating anti-fossil fuel energy policies and how the incoming Trump Administration might reverse them. They look at what the future of energy looks like for Texas and the rest of America. And they fact check the tv series Landman’s portrayal of the oil and gas industry. Mike Sommers is the President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, the largest trade association representing all aspects of America's oil and natural gas industry. Follow him on X at @mj_sommers. How realistic is Taylor Sheridan’s Landman? “100 million barrels of oil a day” Biden’s latest offshore lease restrictions American natural gas, a clear win for the environment. “It’s better to get ahead of the regulators.” The argument for exporting natural gas Bitcoin mining in west Texas The EPA’s twin tail pipe rules – Biden’s war on internal combustion engines The real costs of electric vehicles At what point do you have too much wind power? The future of the Texas grid First steps for Trump’s EPA

Duration:00:39:22

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SITREP #4: Laken Riley Act, Biden’s Offshore Leasing Ban, Taking Greenland, & the New Political Dynamics in the Middle East

1/8/2025
On the latest SITREP (Situation Report), Congressman Crenshaw explains how the Republican House strategy at the start of the 119th Congress and gives us the Civics 101 on how the legislative process works. He covers the possibility of overturning Biden’s sweeping ban on offshore oil and gas leases, U.S. investors making a bid for TikTok, and the possibility of turning Greenland into a U.S. territory. And he examines the shifting political dynamics in Syria and Lebanon as Iran’s influence in the Middle East wanes. The House passes the Laken Riley Act (LRA) Addressing the Democrats “anti-immigrant” charges Leader Thune’s strategy to pass LRA in the Senate What you need to know about House rules and the legislative process Parliamentary Procedure 101 Biden’s sweeping offshore oil and gas leasing ban Why reversing Biden’s ban will be difficult Kevin O’Leary makes a bid for TikTok Make Greenland Great Again! Gulf of AMERICA Iran’s diminishing influence in the Middle East A cautious step forward in U.S. – Syria relations

Duration:00:28:52

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SITREP #3: The Speaker’s Race, New Year’s Day Attacks, the Nippon Steel Deal, & Constitutional Crisis in South Korea

1/4/2025
For episode 3 of the SITREP (Situation Report), Rep. Crenshaw gives his insights into the most important news that happened over the holidays. · Speaker Johnson wins on the first ballot · What we know about the NOLA and Las Vegas attacks · The Debate Over H1B Visas · The Nippon Steel Deal · Latest on the TikTok Chinese Ownership Ban · Caution and Optimism in Syria · South Korean Constitutional Drama

Duration:00:27:00

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Small Reactors, Huge Potential: The Future of Nuclear Power | Doug Bernauer

1/3/2025
Entrepreneur, rocket engineer, and nuclear expert Doug Bernauer joined Rep. Crenshaw to discuss the future of portable nuclear energy, colonies on Mars, and the bureaucratic inertia standing in their way. A fascinating conversation with lots of insights into the science and the regulatory environment of space exploration and nuclear power. Doug Bernauer is the CEO of Radiant Nuclear, a startup developing mass produced portable nuclear reactors. Before that, Doug spent 12 years working on a variety of research and development projects for SpaceX. Follow him on X at @DougBernauer. • Learning from SpaceX’s culture of innovation • Overcoming the physical limitations of living on Mars • Nuclear-powered rockets • Small modular reactors and micro-reactors • Bringing nuclear power to overseas military bases • Risk analysis of nuclear power • Uranium Fuel 101 • What stalled the 1960s nuclear power boom? • Regulatory reforms to kickstart nuclear again • Bringing the SpaceX model to nuclear • Deploying clean, cheap energy to remote regions • A Russian nuclear power station on the moon?

Duration:00:35:30

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Stablecoins, Web 3.0, and the Future of Crypto Regulation | Rep. Erin Houchin and Rep. Mike Flood

12/23/2024
Rep. Erin Houchin and Rep. Mike Flood join the show to discuss crypto policy in Congress and under the next Trump Administration. They give Rep. Crenshaw the 101 on how crypto works and how U.S. dollar-backed stable coins could change the financial system. And they look at the implications of Web 3.0 on censorship, content creators, financial fraud, and China’s global power moves. · The beginning of the crypto movement · NFTs: the beanie babies of the internet · The Canadian Trucker Strike · Gary Gensler – “a fountain of bad ideas at the SEC” · Regulatory authority in crypto markets · Stablecoins 101 · Geopolitical implications of stablecoins · Disconnecting from the banks · President Trump’s Crypto Czar · Evolution of internet regulation · Web 3.0 · Facebook’s stranglehold on content creators and local news · The Hawk Tuah Coin Scam · Cabbage Patch dolls! · FIT 21 – the House’s answer to crypto regulation · Explaining blockchain technology · Will quantum computers break crypto? · Stablecoins and financial fraud · China’s move to control the global stablecoin Congresswoman Erin Houchin represents the 9th District of Indiana. She currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee, the House Rules Committee, and the House Education and Workforce Committee. And she was recently appointed to serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the 119th Congress. Follow her on X at @RepHouchin. Congressman Mike Flood represents the 1st District of Nebraska. He currently serves on the Financial Services Committee as well as the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee and the Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion Subcommittee. Follow him on X at @USRepMikeFlood. Listen to Rep. Crenshaw’s past episodes on Bitcoin with Rep. Patrick McHenry and Peter McCormack.

Duration:00:45:16

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SITREP #2: The Truth About CRs, Debt Ceilings, and Government Shutdowns

12/21/2024
On episode 2 of the SITREP (Situation Report), Rep. Crenshaw drops the facts – not the Influencer Industrial Complex spin - on the Continuing Resolution that passed the House late Friday evening. He explains what was in the original CR that failed earlier this week and why it was so controversial. And he walks us through the reality of how budgets are negotiated in Congress. · Explanation of what a Continuing Resolution (CR) is · The federal budget process: appropriations vs. authorizations · Challenges of bipartisan compromise in budget negotiations · The role of the Senate in passing appropriations bills · The impact of a government shutdown and why CRs are common · Details about the latest CR negotiations, including: · Pharmacy Benefit Manager Price Transparency Act · Disaster aid and farm bill extensions · Restrictions on outbound investments to China · Expiring healthcare programs, such as traumatic brain injury research and the SUPPORT Act · Political misinformation about the CR (e.g., Ukraine aid, congressional pay raises) · The argument for and against a debt ceiling · The consequences of government shutdowns on families and national finances · Internal disagreements within Congress on legislative priorities · Explanation of suspension votes and their significance · Discussion on splitting legislation into smaller bills for voting · Updates on ongoing negotiations and possible outcomes

Duration:00:25:49

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SITREP 18-DEC-2024: Undecided on the CR

12/18/2024
We’re trying something new here on Hold These Truths: a weekly SITREP (Situation Report) on news of the day with real time insights into what’s happening In Congress, the country, and the world. This will now be your one stop shop for real news. Matt Gaetz ethics report AOC loses ranking member of Oversight Committee The Continuing Resolution Rethinking the budget process Unknowns in Syria Corruption in China’s military Assassinations in Moscow Salt Typhoon (not a James Bond movie) DOE’s ban on gas exports Trans activists lose their institutional support

Duration:00:15:28

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Lessons In Urban Warfare, From Syria to Taiwan | John Spencer

12/16/2024
John Spencer is the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to explore the historical evolution of urban combat and analyze modern strategies for conquering and defending cities. John discusses how urban warfare is playing out in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Ukraine. And he envisions the most likely scenarios for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, along with potential U.S.-Mexico counterinsurgency efforts against the cartels. • The evolution of urban warfare • Regime change and chaos in Syria • Why willpower often trumps raw numbers • Hezbollah’s decimation and its implications • Israeli airstrikes in post-Assad Syria • “The way you take a city is psychologically.” • Russia’s miscalculation in Kiev and Ukraine’s resistance • How Gaza’s conflict was unlike any other • Why banning missiles could result in more civilian casualties • Debunking the “Zero Dark Thirty” Fallacy • “Is that Batman??” • Why the pager operation wouldn’t have worked in Gaza • More common misconceptions: The Abacus, Vampire, and Peace Table Fallacies • Taiwan’s defenses and civilian preparation for invasion • U.S.-Mexico counterinsurgency strategies to combat cartels John Spencer currently serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, Co-Director of the Urban Warfare Project, and host of the Urban Warfare Project podcast. He also serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies with the Madison Policy Forum, a New York based think-tank. He is a founding member of the International Working Group on Subterranean Warfare. He is the author of three books: Understanding Urban Warfare, (Howgate Publishing, 2022), Connected Soldiers: Life, Leadership, and Social Connections in Modern War (Potomac Books, 2022; Winner of the 2023 Gold Medal Award, Best Military History Memoir, Military Writers Society of America), The Mini-Manual for the Urban Defender (John Spencer, 2022). Follow him on X at @SpencerGuard.

Duration:01:02:06

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Will Elon Musk’s Starlink Transform Geopolitics? | Ilan Berman

12/4/2024
American Foreign Policy Council’s Ilan Berman gives us the 101 on the past, present, and possible future of the Iranian regime, Middle East geopolitics, and the potential for Starlink as a tool to topple authoritarian regimes. · What do the Iranian dissidents want from the United States? · Is the Iranian regime at a tipping point? · The changing demographics in Iran · How 1979 changed everything · The CIA boogeyman · Recapping U.S. – Iran historical relations · “They’ve had a gun to Israel’s head for a while.” · What’s the Iranian regime thinking now? · The cold-hearted rationality of Middle East politics · Why Iran might fast-track development of a nuclear bomb · Three scenarios for a post-ayatollah Iran · Why the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps isn’t going away · How Elon Musk’s Starlink could transform geopolitics · China’s race to dominate space-based digital connectivity · Africa’s population boom Ilan Berman is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC. An expert on regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Russian Federation, he has consulted for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency as well as the U.S. Departments of State and Defense, and has also provided assistance on foreign policy and national security issues to a range of governmental agencies and congressional offices. Follow him on X at @ilanberman.

Duration:00:43:56

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The ‘BlueAnon’ Playbook for Turning Conspiracy Theories into Mainstream Narratives | David Harsanyi

11/20/2024
David Harsanyi returns to discuss his new book “The Rise of BlueAnon: How the Democrats Became a Party of Conspiracy Theorists.” David reveals how the Left has been consumed by a uniquely dangerous and delusional brand of conspiracy theories. And unlike those on the Right, the Left’s conspiracy theories are rarely kept in check by mainstream institutions. Fun and insightful conversation with one of America’s smartest conservative writers. • How do we define a conspiracy theory? • The psychology of crowds • Why “Russia collusion” was an effective conspiracy theory • How Adam Schiff played everybody • The limits of skepticism • Victimhood and paranoia • The BLM riots and police assassinations • Why the left doesn’t want students to learn civics • “I wish someone would do something about how fat I am” • What people get wrong about Big Pharma • Antisemitism and the left • What happened to the groypers? • Social media and children’s mental health • Climate alarmism • Rachel Maddow and other successful purveyors of conspiracy theories • “You don’t need to be like your enemy.” • Delusions of living in The Handmaid’s Tale • The viability argument • How leftists sidestep the morality debate David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of several bestselling books. A contributor to the New York Post, his work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Reason, USA Today, National Review, and numerous other publications, and he has been featured on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, ABC World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, and dozens of radio talk shows across the country. Follow him on X at @davidharsanyi.

Duration:01:06:53

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Modern Battlegrounds: The AI Arms Race | Paul Scharre

11/8/2024
Paul Scharre is an artificial intelligence expert who led the Department of Defense’s working group to establish policies on autonomous weapons systems. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to cover the latest (unclassified) capabilities of AI on the battlefield, the AI arms race with China, and the fine line between utopia and apocalypse which emerging AI tech has to offer us. • Equipping Congress to deal with Artificial Intelligence • How software has changed since the 1990s • No rules: the machine is learning on its own • Emergence of robots in the Iraq War • The Pentagon’s policy on autonomous weapons • Drones over Ukraine • The 4 Battlegrounds of Artificial Intelligence • The data race with China • “Why did ChatGPT say that?” • Chinese spies infiltrating American tech • Integrating more AI into the U.S. military • China’s 1984 Nightmare in Xinjiang Province • “They literally call it SkyNet.” • Scary hypotheticals for when AI “becomes human” • “We’ve seen models engage in spontaneous deception.” • AI cooperation agreements with China • How do we regulate the next frontiers of AI? • Could AI build a nuclear weapon? Paul Scharre is the Vice President and Director of Studies at the Center for a New American Security. He is the author of "Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" and "Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War." Scharre previously worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) where he played a leading role in establishing policies on unmanned and autonomous systems and emerging weapons technologies. He led the Department of Defense (DoD) working group that drafted DoD Directive 3000.09, establishing the department’s policies on autonomy in weapon systems. He also led DoD efforts to establish policies on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance programs and directed energy technologies. Scharre was involved in the drafting of policy guidance in the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance, 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, and secretary-level planning guidance. Prior to joining OSD, Scharre served as a special operations reconnaissance team leader in the Army’s 3rd Ranger Battalion and completed multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the Army’s Airborne, Ranger, and Sniper Schools and Honor Graduate of the 75th Ranger Regiment’s Ranger Indoctrination Program. Follow Paul on X at @paul_scharre.

Duration:01:04:58

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A Former Never Trumper Makes the Case for Trump 2024 | Shaun Maguire

10/30/2024
Shaun Maguire is a venture capitalist, tech entrepreneur, and Caltech physics PhD. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to talk about his journey from Never Trumper in 2016 to supporting President Trump in 2024. Shaun makes the analytical case for why Trump’s method for foreign policy makes sense. Namely, Trump’s ability to flex American power in a language that Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and China understand. Shaun also explains why parts of Silicon Valley are moving right, why our defense industrial base is in dire need of repair, and the physics of how black holes work. Shaun Maguire is a partner at the venture capital firm, Sequoia Capital. He has founded two companies (one in space technologies and another in global internet security) and holds a PhD in physics from Caltech. Shaun also previously worked at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He was deployed to Afghanistan for three months and his team received a Joint Meritorious Unit Award for their work. Follow him on X at @shaunmmaguire.

Duration:01:26:42

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Rep. Crenshaw Takes the Fifth (Column)

10/25/2024
*SPECIAL CROSSPOST EPISODE* Rep. Crenshaw joined Michael Moynihan and Matt Welch for their weekly podcast series The Fifth Column. Really fun conversation covering a lot of ground. Topics include: · How to be a Navy SEAL · Losing an eye in Afghanistan · Dan can’t find his glasses / “I can’t see shit” · Lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan · A case study in intelligence failure and confirmation bias · On leaving the Taliban in power · Has Trump been good on foreign policy? · The Republican Party post-Trump · Tucker "is best friends with Hunter Biden!” · Why are you even in Congress? · On the mechanics of Congress · Maybe a hundred normal congressmen · What has Dan accomplished for Texas? · Is populism winning? · On banning TikTok Michael Moynihan is a former contributor for Daily Beast and Vice on HBO. Follow him on X at @mcmoynihan. Matt Welch is the Editor at Large of Reason. Follow him on X at @MattWelch. Subscribe to The Fifth Column on Substack here: https://www.wethefifth.com/podcast

Duration:01:16:06