Whose Foreign Policy Is Really Dumb; the Elephant Man Theory of Beauty Pageants, and 'Some Idiot Wrote This'—Introducing The Fifth Column Podcast

Matt Welch, Kmele Foster and Michael Moynihan talk smack about culture and current events

What has six arms, six legs, too many clashing libertarian opinions, and one pair of hilariously expensive shoes? A new weekly podcast called The Fifth Column, featuring Kmele Foster, Michael Moynihan and myself, dishing "analysis, commentary, sedition," plus weird guests. (And no, timing of the release has nothing to do with the journalistic re-emergence of Andrew Sullivan in a new decadent enclave.) You can subscribe to The Fif' on iTunes, download our debut episode at this link, and also listen to it right here:

Among the topics in Episode 1: Are we outraged at the right terrorist attacks? How much dukey is the FBI full of on the Apple encryption case? Is Donald Trump's dumb foreign policy really worse than the status-quo hawks? What can we learn from the "Biblical parable of the Elephant Man theory of beauty pageants" (it's worth it, trust me!), and which two pieces deserved this week's prize of "Some Idiot Wrote This" (hint: one of them can be found at this link).

Feedback and suggestions welcome in the comments and at the podcast's Twitter feed (@wethefifth). If history is any guide, some insults may be read out loud….

Comments

[Heroic Mulatto]

Well, I could listen to that podcast or, in the same period, I could watch this video 240 times.

[You Sound Like a Prog (MJG)]

Why do I let you do that to my YouTube history?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Let me tell you a story....

[Crusty Juggler]

The plot was terrible.

[jarflax]

I saw a pretty good pair of arcs. That plot passes.

[The Hyperbole]

Didn't suck, I found it difficult to doze off while listening.

[Crusty Juggler]

I am glad these nerds finally gotten to the podcast game. I shall listen as i nurse my hangover before my running date. Don't ever make a running date.

[jarflax]

I am not fast enough to make a running date. They always get away.

[darius404]

One thing I have to say, about flying: the fear isn't irrational. The fear isn't from a belief that your chances of crashing are HIGH; it comes from the fact that you can't personally do anything to MITIGATE

[darius404]

(dammit) the risk. If you're in your car, you can be more careful and watchful, and theoretically deal with yourself or other people being poor drivers. But you can't do anything to keep your plane or pilot from having an accident. If something goes wrong, there's NOTHING you can do. You're screwed. At least in a car you can try and swerve or something.

Also, plane crashes are pretty total in what you lose. You can survive a car accident. There's no realistic way you'll survive a plane crash. The loss is total.

[darius404]

Heh. And NOW I hear Matt Welch say the same thing. Great.

[Gene]

This control freak agrees.

[Terc]

Entertaining and informative. Record one every week and I will listen.

[BigT]

Matt Welch rocks! Kmele is brilliant!

They need a third person, sexy, focused, witty, and driven, to make this a great show. Where, oh where, could they find such a person?

[Trigger Warning]

Kerry Howley?

[Trigger Warning]

The incoherent lede does not inspire me to dive into whatever it is you are talking about. For highbrow journalists, you are sometimes collectively shitty writers.

[AdamJ]

Good to audibly hear Matt's disdain for Trump instead of just read it in print.

Will keep listening.