Union of the Snek is such a weird tune and even weirder video. But I will say- 80s Duran Duran totally holds up! Simon LeBon is one of the great underrated singers of that era. But yeah- what was all the obsession with borderlines in the 80s? And the international spy motifs? I call it ‘cocaine espionage music’. Glenn Frey, Christopher Cross….nobody’s hands are clean on this one.
I’ve been listening to the podcast since the beginning. The Thad Russell days.
Favorite episodes? The one with Jesse Singal talking about the “American Dirt” controversy was absolutely hilarious. As were many
others of course. But my favorite would have to be the one from 9/11/21. According to the show notes, Moynihan sent a text saying “I feel like talking about 9/11”, and a few hours later a new episode dropped. I had a really tough drive that evening and was grateful to have some company. Thank you for that.
Those Fetterman/Gillespie images are upsetting and reason enough alone to ban generative AI.
And to answer the question, not sure how I found my way to TFC, actually. It’s been about four-plus years and I’m guessing it was through Andrew Sullivan, who shepherded me out of the NYT/New Yorker/NY Mag neurotic progressive flock.
I’ve been a Sully fan for 20+ years and tuned in when he was on your pod - it was the (in)famous “balls in the tidal pool” episode. I was hooked, of course!
Truthfully, Episode 1. You posted something about a new podcast over at Reason, and at the time I was mostly just jamming out to the EconTalk and Freakonomics archives during my 3-hour round-trip daily commute. So I hit the subscribe button and have been enjoying your drunken ramblings every since.
Same here. Been reading Reason since I started watching the Independents. Matt posted about the new podcast to which I was like "what the hell is a podcast?"...but I loved the Independents; Love reason; so figured I would give it awhirl. Little did I know I would become a complete junkie and my mood would be correlated with the amount of time in between episode releases.
Started listening in peak year of our Floyd pandemic times. To say y’all kept me sane is an understatement and I’ve been a loyal supporter ever since. Haven’t even paused my sub or missed an episode since. I look forward to the sanity during Trump 2’s Tariff Boogaloo. Oh and to add favorite guest is definitely Josh Szeps who you introduced me to through the Fifth.
I don't remember exactly when I started listening, but it was pre-patreon, post 2016 election.
At the time, I was a listener to the NPR Politics podcast and the FiveThirtyEight politics podcast and I was just getting more and more annoyed by the creeping shift leftward (although the rare episodes when Nate Silver was actually on were consistently good; there's a reason I now subscribe to the Silver Bulletin).
I ended up looking for places that had non-insane people from the right, because I was explicitely wanting to get out of my bubble. The Fifth Column was one of the ones that got listed (although obviously, it's not a "right" podcast by any means).
I've never looked back. It's been great, and I've been giving you guys money since you made it possible and every cent was worth it.
I suggested on the Twitter awhile back that you and the Revolutionary War should get a room. Good to know you’re leaning into it. I grew up in that part of NJ. Jockey Hollow was where I’d head to when I cut school and smoke cigs. More than once I was carted back to the headmaster’s office on the back of a park ranger’s ATV. Good times. I’ve got nothing to add other than I miss that part of the world…which is why I’m moving from your old stomping grounds (Silverlake) to Maine. Fuck LA.
I think we clearly established that St. Louis is the place for a live show, in the Duck Room (a.k.a. Cicero's Basement - https://losttables.com/ciceros/ciceros.htm). I'll buy Matt a BLT at Crown Candy Kitchen.
Jacob Siegel might be my favorite guest, but there have been a lot of them I thoroughly enjoyed. For favorite episode I'm going to go with one where Moynihan showed up late and drunk (which one, they ask) or when he came in hot for getting cuffed in front of the kiddo at a checkpoint then thrown in the hoosegow for unpaid parking tickets (#143). There are so many.
Been here since Episode 1. Favorite guest is, naturally, Ben Dreyfuss. Particularly the earlier, booze-filled lunacy. Can’t go wrong with Tampa Bay area. (That’s a lie, I’ve managed it quite a few times).
Don't have a favorite episode, but my favorite moment is (and will likely always be) MM's fantastically epic "Tall Girl Rant" on episode #153 (I think its called "moderately chic" or something like that). My second favorite moment is MM's take on what Kmele was like when he first met him vs. what Kmele is like now...which was in one of the first MO episodes. I forgot the episode # unfortunately.
Matt, I am very concerned about the national debt. A lover will ask why I lay awake at night and it's because of the national debt! Where do I find your "we’re-fucked talk about the national debt" that you gave, was it recorded, I hope? Thanks!
From Sydney town here. Just watched the Snek video and I laughed so much I woke up my bride. This type of stuff proves we are at least the funniest species in the universe.
Union of the Snek is such a weird tune and even weirder video. But I will say- 80s Duran Duran totally holds up! Simon LeBon is one of the great underrated singers of that era. But yeah- what was all the obsession with borderlines in the 80s? And the international spy motifs? I call it ‘cocaine espionage music’. Glenn Frey, Christopher Cross….nobody’s hands are clean on this one.
I’ve been listening to the podcast since the beginning. The Thad Russell days.
Favorite episodes? The one with Jesse Singal talking about the “American Dirt” controversy was absolutely hilarious. As were many
others of course. But my favorite would have to be the one from 9/11/21. According to the show notes, Moynihan sent a text saying “I feel like talking about 9/11”, and a few hours later a new episode dropped. I had a really tough drive that evening and was grateful to have some company. Thank you for that.
Cocaine Espionage Music is so, so good…. Simon Le Bon is criminally underrated as a chorus/harmonies writer…
Need to track down the Jesse Singal episode. American Dirt-gate was one of the most fascinatingly stupidest controversies ever.
Episode 171
What episode number is the American Dirt show?
#171
Those Fetterman/Gillespie images are upsetting and reason enough alone to ban generative AI.
And to answer the question, not sure how I found my way to TFC, actually. It’s been about four-plus years and I’m guessing it was through Andrew Sullivan, who shepherded me out of the NYT/New Yorker/NY Mag neurotic progressive flock.
I'm curious, are you still a fan of sully?
excuse me, I need a 'no step on snek' phone case cover immediately?
I’ve been a Sully fan for 20+ years and tuned in when he was on your pod - it was the (in)famous “balls in the tidal pool” episode. I was hooked, of course!
An absolutely legendary episode.
"When did you start listening?"
Truthfully, Episode 1. You posted something about a new podcast over at Reason, and at the time I was mostly just jamming out to the EconTalk and Freakonomics archives during my 3-hour round-trip daily commute. So I hit the subscribe button and have been enjoying your drunken ramblings every since.
Same here. Been reading Reason since I started watching the Independents. Matt posted about the new podcast to which I was like "what the hell is a podcast?"...but I loved the Independents; Love reason; so figured I would give it awhirl. Little did I know I would become a complete junkie and my mood would be correlated with the amount of time in between episode releases.
Started listening in peak year of our Floyd pandemic times. To say y’all kept me sane is an understatement and I’ve been a loyal supporter ever since. Haven’t even paused my sub or missed an episode since. I look forward to the sanity during Trump 2’s Tariff Boogaloo. Oh and to add favorite guest is definitely Josh Szeps who you introduced me to through the Fifth.
I don't remember exactly when I started listening, but it was pre-patreon, post 2016 election.
At the time, I was a listener to the NPR Politics podcast and the FiveThirtyEight politics podcast and I was just getting more and more annoyed by the creeping shift leftward (although the rare episodes when Nate Silver was actually on were consistently good; there's a reason I now subscribe to the Silver Bulletin).
I ended up looking for places that had non-insane people from the right, because I was explicitely wanting to get out of my bubble. The Fifth Column was one of the ones that got listed (although obviously, it's not a "right" podcast by any means).
I've never looked back. It's been great, and I've been giving you guys money since you made it possible and every cent was worth it.
I suggested on the Twitter awhile back that you and the Revolutionary War should get a room. Good to know you’re leaning into it. I grew up in that part of NJ. Jockey Hollow was where I’d head to when I cut school and smoke cigs. More than once I was carted back to the headmaster’s office on the back of a park ranger’s ATV. Good times. I’ve got nothing to add other than I miss that part of the world…which is why I’m moving from your old stomping grounds (Silverlake) to Maine. Fuck LA.
I’ll hit up Ye Olde Rustic and the far superior Drawing Room one last time and throw a few back in honor of The Fifth
Listened from the jump.
I think we clearly established that St. Louis is the place for a live show, in the Duck Room (a.k.a. Cicero's Basement - https://losttables.com/ciceros/ciceros.htm). I'll buy Matt a BLT at Crown Candy Kitchen.
Jacob Siegel might be my favorite guest, but there have been a lot of them I thoroughly enjoyed. For favorite episode I'm going to go with one where Moynihan showed up late and drunk (which one, they ask) or when he came in hot for getting cuffed in front of the kiddo at a checkpoint then thrown in the hoosegow for unpaid parking tickets (#143). There are so many.
St. Louis definitely jumped the line....
Been here since Episode 1. Favorite guest is, naturally, Ben Dreyfuss. Particularly the earlier, booze-filled lunacy. Can’t go wrong with Tampa Bay area. (That’s a lie, I’ve managed it quite a few times).
Don't have a favorite episode, but my favorite moment is (and will likely always be) MM's fantastically epic "Tall Girl Rant" on episode #153 (I think its called "moderately chic" or something like that). My second favorite moment is MM's take on what Kmele was like when he first met him vs. what Kmele is like now...which was in one of the first MO episodes. I forgot the episode # unfortunately.
Matt, I am very concerned about the national debt. A lover will ask why I lay awake at night and it's because of the national debt! Where do I find your "we’re-fucked talk about the national debt" that you gave, was it recorded, I hope? Thanks!
I don't think it will be made publicly available.... Maybe I post the slides here?
Free press, 5th column, and Adam Conover? that is quite the ecumenicism you got going on.....
From Sydney town here. Just watched the Snek video and I laughed so much I woke up my bride. This type of stuff proves we are at least the funniest species in the universe.
I joined up after the lads were accused of being sexist by Miriam elder. They sounded like good people. Fortunately my instincts were correct
Iconique
So, if the US invades Greenland, does Denmark invoke Article 5?
Time to start planning the blow out for the big 1-0 next year!