This is a good one.
On today’s “To the Contrary” Podcast, David French and I have a wide-ranging conversation that opens with a discussion of Pete Hegseth’s Easter purge of the military and segues to the abrupt firing of Pam Bondi. David’s take:
The reason she was fired, is that despite her very best efforts, she could not deliver on the corruption and vengeance that Trump wanted her to deliver on.
Inter alia, we also discuss:
Why Trump miscalculated so badly in Iran.
The dangers of a “military caste”.
The Holy Week blasphemy in the White House.
The Evangelical “empty vessels” who have become Trump’s cult.
The debate over birthright citizenship and American identity.
Subscribers can listen to an ad-free version right here… )or you can watch on YouTube / Listen (and subscribe) on Apple/ Spotify / iHeart / RSS Feed
Some highlights of my conversation with David French
Why Pam was sacked.
Trump’s purge of the military — putting political loyalty ahead of merit — is part of the authoritarian playbook.
Blasphemy, anyone?
David explains what he meant when he posted “Populists ask, ‘What has conservatism ever conserved?’ Well, it's about to conserve birthright citizenship.”
French on birthright citizenship and the credal foundations of the American idea.
ICYMI: A Week of Commentary
Saturday dogs
Catching up with our French dog, Zok, who is clearly living his best life (Via my daughter’s Substack, ‘A Dog a Day.”)
