Need to Know

207 Episodes

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E289. “Her Own Body,” and Treason

2019-05-2455:49

Is it treason to criticize the president? If so, Mona and Jay are in big trouble. They also take swipes at Beto, Mayor Pete, farm subsidies, and more, while pausing to appreciate a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington moment. They end on a bittersweet note — this is the last regularly scheduled Need to Know. Source

E288. Great Patriot Podcasters

2019-05-1501:07:32

Jay and Mona do tariffs, mercantilism, the NRA and other grifters, Harvard and Harvey Weinstein, the Uighers, and Franklin Graham’s stunning fundraising gambit. Source

E287. God Bless America

2019-05-0350:57

Yes, Mona and Jay talk about Kate Smith, recently the victim of a terrible injustice. But they don’t play “God Bless America” at the end. They have Kate Smith in “I’ll Be Seeing You,” that classic (1938) by Fain and Kahal. In the course of the ’cast, they talk about Venezuela, Trump, Mueller, Bernie, and other topics that seize attention. Source

E286. Making All Political Arguments into Legal Disputes

2019-04-2654:09

Law professor Adam White joins the podcast to discuss the Mueller report, the contours of obstruction, and our trend toward criminalizing matters that deserve political treatment. Jay and Mona then discuss Game of Thrones (briefly!), a midwestern heroine, and more. Source

E285. Is Twitter Twisting Us?

2019-04-0801:06:12

Jay and Mona consider the days when Democrats were deregulators (truly), how great our air transport system is (truly), and cheating at golf, among many other things. Music: Laura Dickinson, Come Fly With Me... Source

E284. Heroes And Heels

2019-03-3001:00:08

Jay and Mona pay tribute to a great French pilot and a tough Mossad agent. They also talk of Biden’s flaws, the Democrats’ drift, the Mueller report, and a great show — “1776.” Music From This Week’s Show: But Mr. Adams – 1776 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)... Source

E283. Immigration, Sí or No?

2019-03-1501:01:50

The Atlantic’s David Frum joins to discuss his thoughtful article on limiting immigration. Jay and Mona then get sidetracked on several issues and have fun doing so. Source

E282. Oh My, Omar

2019-03-1101:02:09

Benjamin Parker of The Bulwark joins Jay and Mona to discuss the anti-Semitism kerfuffle in the Democratic Party, reparations for slavery, Joe Biden (how dare he call Mike Pence a nice guy), and the age issue. Music from this week’s episode: “Sleeping Beauty” Waltz (Tchaikovsky)... Source

E281. Norks to Nixons

2019-03-0201:04:03

Jay and Mona dissect the Cohen hearing, the Hanoi summit, Amy Klobuchar’s character, Netanyahu’s decline, and the last Nixon brother to pass away, before paying tribute to the great Andre Previn. Source

E280. Warrentless Childcare

2019-02-2259:43

Lindsey Burke of Heritage joins to examine the Democrats’ proposals for universal pre-K. Jay and Mona then reflect on Ilhan Omar v. Elliott Abrams, Kamala Harris v. Neomi Rao, and Robert Kraft’s trouble. Source

E279. Never Apologize

2019-02-1156:45

Is that the standard now? Jay and Mona consider the travails of Virginia’s governor, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Elizabeth Warren and many others in this age of shame and shamelessness. They also talk Green New Deal, Kim Jong Un, and much more. Source

E278. Infanticide, the KKK, and the SuperBowl

2019-02-0548:02

That was the past week. Jay and Mona cover it, with poll data, a little Starbucks, a little Medicare for All, and some reminiscences about the religion of anti-racism. Source

E277. Goo-Goos, Amigos, and Other Characters

2019-01-2501:07:16

Beholding the government-shutdown fiasco, Jay recalls an old term: “goo-goo.” He and Mona discuss “the wall and the cave,” the Democratic field so far, and “The Three Amigos.” They also ask if the U.S. remains serious about NATO. Mona recounts a personal experience of Roger Stone. Music from this week’s show: Fazil Say plays his famous jazz version of Mozart’s “Rondo alla turca... Source

E276. Is Max Boot Right?

2019-01-1801:05:44

A loaded question. There is lots of agreement and some disagreement with this honest man. Then Jay and Mona launch into the news of the week: Bill Barr, the wall, Brexit, left-wing conspiracy theories, and a mini-debate about Ann Coulter. Music from this week’s episode: Misirlou – Greek Version... Source

E275. Chicken

2019-01-1057:07

Over the Wall, the R’s and the Dems are playing a game of chicken. That’s one thing Mona and Jay say about this shutdown drama. Who’s going to swerve away first? Is the border a genuine national emergency? Then our hosts talk about Tucker Carlson’s monologue heard ’round the world, or certainly ’round the Right, as Mona says: What are the limits of government? What can government do for people? Source

E274. Pow Wow Chow

2019-01-0401:16:25

Elizabeth Warren is running. The Boston Globe’s Jeff Jacoby analyzes her “likeability” among other things with Mona. Jay joins later to talk about another Massachusettsite – or is it Utahite? Source

E273. French and Friends

2018-12-2101:11:30

David French joins Jay and Mona to explode myths (“Flynn was framed!”) and analyze where things stand with a president unmoored. Secretary Mattis is gone, but Steven Miller goes on and on. Source

E272. Jay for Oscar Host!

2018-12-1401:00:02

Jay is back. Mona and Jay lament the passing of the Weekly Standard, note the president’s ISO for COS, ask about the wall, talk a little Russia, a little Flynn, and Cohen, and praise the free press and Hedy Lamarr. Source

E271. Remembering One Man and Remembering American History

2018-12-1144:19

In this bonus episode, Mona and colleagues discuss the work of the late Bruce Cole – a believer in America who left a great legacy. Source

E270. Johnson and Lake

2018-12-0701:07:51

It sounds like a PR firm or a face cream, but it’s our two guests this week. Bloomberg’s Eli Lake sits in for Jay as co-host, and Eliana Johnson of Politico offers her insights on staff shake-ups at the White House. Eli and Mona then talk Russia, N. Korea, and climate. We got out to some music in honor of The Weekly Standard... Source

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