Episode 168 w/ Miriam Elder: 'Does Anything Matter Anymore?'

We selected some stories, organized them in a thoughtful way -- and even developed a few punchy segways. But we didn't do much with any of that...

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Moynihan watches the presidential debate with his old pal Glenn Beck. Donald Trump doesn't understand how handshakes work at all. Hillary Clinton should probably give up on email at this point. And there's obviously only one hope for avoiding an all out nuclear conflict between the United States and Russia: someone's gonna need to arm the Kurds while setting up a 'No Fly Zone'...

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2016 Libertarian Party Presidential Hopeful Gary Johnson Swings By.

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Near the tail end of the recording, Moynihan pronounced this the best show we've ever done...' Perhaps so.

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The triumvirate has much to discuss after a weekend disrupted by terror attacks in several states and yet another high profile police shooting. Media speculation, double standards and misestimation of risk abound. Also... Denzel Washington.

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We had to MacGyver the hell out of this weeks dispatch. It's almost as if someone was trying to stop us... (Just asking questions here). Aleppo, Baskets of 'Deplorables', More Hacked Emails, Hillary's Flu-Ghazi... or is it a Trumpian Putanist plot (JUST ASKING QUESTIONS)...

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Colin Kaepernick rides the pine (which makes sense on many levels). Donald Trump visits Mexico. Hillary Clinton squares off with the AltRight. A few things remain unclear: Will our heroes ever get around to the oft promised discussion of 'private prisons'? Will Welch learn to properly operate the clock in the studio? Will Mexico pay for the wall? Will Moynihan finally learn how to 'Dab'?

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When Buck Sexton sits in for the hour there's a good chance the conversation will turn to foreign policy. As it turns out, that's exactly what happened and despited promises to the contrary, it pretty much stayed there. We did manage to establish a new (as in 'first ever' and 'only') Official Beer of the Fifth Column, so that's something. Other highlights: It's Moynihan's Birthday... Pretty sure Matt is drunk... and Kmele managed to pretzel Paul Krugman, Isis, Obama Care and the War in Iraq into a single metaphor -- fair chance he's drunk too.

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Moynihan is off this week, appears he had obligations related to something he's describing as 'his real job'. We don't know what that's supposed to mean but it sounds illegal. Author and Observer columnist Michael Malice fills the empty chair for am hour and change, shouts things into the mic and generally enriches our regular rhetorical intercourse.

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Episode 20: The most discursive and 'intrupty' installment to date, but never worry, they always stick that landing (that's an Olympics reference).

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The Conventions are over, Welch, Moynihan and Foster are back in Gotham and it feels like Autumn in August.

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The Fifth Column's presidential convention coverage continues. Matt Welch phones in from the convention floor in Philadelphia, Moynihan convalesces in New York after a harrowing Republican convention and Foster dabs his brow compassionately with a damp cold cloth.

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Welch and Moynihan from the Floor of the RNC Convention... What could possibly go wrong?

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A trifecta of highly charged police involved shootings dominate the headlines; what are the odds that resulting media coverage and political rhetoric are substantive, fact-based and solutions oriented? And what is President Obama going on about? Plus: Which member of the triumvirate was roughed up for backtalking the cops? Will Barbra Boxer accept Welch's VERY indecent proposal?And, perhaps most importantly, when is carrying around a bottle of wine in a Ziplock bag filled with ice not dignified and respectable? Probably when you refuse to share.

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What is Kmele hiding in Greece? Why is Donald Trump taking advantage of Hillary Clinton’s email lawbreaking by doubling down on the Star of David? And what on earth is the man who contributed to the downfall of pop-science journo-fabulist Jonah Lehrer doing giving the guy a second chance? Also: Chilcot Report, Tony Blair, Iraq regrets, over-classification, and just how many drinks constitutes “a couple” over at Vice News.Foster, Welch and Moynahan discuss...

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What does your dimwitted brother-in-law actually know about Brexit? What actual difference does this Benghazi report make? And finally, will the well monied and influential attendees of the Black Entertainment Television Awards ever overcome their hateful adversaries and obtain actual freedom? Those do sound like very long odds. Producer's Note: The episode is brought to you by the letter 'B' and the word 'Actual'.Foster, Welch and Moynahan discuss... and the glamours Virgina Postrel drops by.

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What's the most [REDACTED] ever to [REDACTED]? Can someone really be 'completely brilliant' and 'wrong about virtually everything'? Will we ever get tired of talk'n bout OJ? In a baseball cap and shorts, is Matt the spitting image of Dennis the Menace? Yes.

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What do Harry Potter, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have in common? Is it still 'politicizing the tragedy' if everyone's doing it?

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What the hell happened to Matt? How awful was Bernie Sanders week and why does he hate women? Why you got to be all racist?

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Will Johnson & Weld make it to the presidential debate stage? Just who is this French fellow -- is he really running for POTUS and why's he omitting all the best bits from his Game of Thrones write-ups?

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Trump and Sanders carry populist revolutions to their respective conventions; will violence ensue? Are we witnessing the end of the culture wars? Plus, thoughts on the Freddie 'Gaye', Black Lives Matter, and those lapel cameras.

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If you hurriedly discuss the primary race will it end any faster? If you'd previously maintained that an economic miracle was unfolding in Venezuela, are you morally obliged to move there? 'If you agree wit him, why you throwin shade?'

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Would Tyler Durden vote for candidate Trump? Why can't super rich authors have everything they want? Is 'Cookie's' accent wonderful or fantastic?

Charles C.W. Cooke of National Review stops by.

Foster, Welch and Moynihan discuss.

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Might a Trump primary victory signal the 'end of days' while simultaneously proving the existence of extraterrestrials? Can independents finally make a significant impact on the election? Will Matt and Moynihan finally 'keep it 100?

Welch returns.

Foster, Welch and Moynihan discuss...

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Trump and Hillary cement their leads but no one's willing to get out of the race; why won't anyone make it stop? How is Donald Trump's foreign policy doctrine like a children's game? Just what is the corporate media's nefarious diabolical plan? Plus Venezuela is a mess and blunt razors can still cut you the hell up. Welch is away on a dangerous operation. Moynihan and Foster discuss... w/Andy Levy of Fox News's Red Eye.

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Has the New York primary finally closed the door on Cruz, Sanders and Kasich? Should a voter who asks politely be allowed more than one ‘I Voted Sticker’? And why would a journalist bother fact-checking something if more than two people have tweeted it — at that point, it’s basically a fact, right? Moynihan, Welch and Foster discuss… w/Anthony Fisher (Reason.com).

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Sanders and Clinton debate on a dock in Brooklyn -- would any have noticed if CNN had just replayed clips of their previous showdowns? Is Gitmo too good for climate skeptics? And how racist are cops in Chicago? Moynihan, Welch and Foster discuss… /w Harry Siegel (The Daily Beast).

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This Week: Bernie Sanders gives an incoherent interview to the Daily News and simultaneously wins a critical presidential primary in Wisconsin; coincidence or conspiracy? Why are Panamanians so awful at keeping secrets? And why do cops insist on shooting black people? Moynihan, Welch and Foster discuss...

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Surprise -- It's the first full episode of The Fifth Column (pardon our dust)!

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