Firehose #91: Debate Me, Brochacho

Also: The thrilling life of libertarian journalism

A whole gaggle of you beloved listeners are here in NYC for the Dissident Dialogues (so called), to slake the occasional thirst one has for seeing Moynihan go full debate-me-bro with the likes of Rising co-host and fiery anti-Zionist Briahna Joy Gray. The two tangled last night over whether Israel vs. Hamas is a “just war,” with Gray squired by Jake Klein, and ‘Ol Reaction Face seconded by frequent Fifth guest Eli Lake (Episode #52, #65, #141, #174, Special Dispatch #51, #326, #368, #407, Members Only #184), with Konstantin Kisin serving as referee. Moynihan got spicy, Gray lamented after that “Rarely have I been confronted with such open bigotry in my own life,” and listener/attendee Barth declared by email that the event was “very satisfying.” EDIT: Whoops! Unauthorized video, had to take it down. Sorry!

* On Thursday, we made our monthly appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show, alas remotely, but nonetheless filled with masturbation jokes. We talked about them dang kids, our kween Ms. King-Slutsky, Kristi Noem’s animal-murder apologetics, the latest Trump-trial developments (Megyn is a particularly shrewd analyst of courtroom stuff), and the majestic GoFundMe rager for the UNC flag-protecting frat-bros:

* Speaking of Megs, I had the privilege later that evening of talking to documentary filmmaker Meg Smaker after a special Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism screening of her terrific documentary The UnRedacted (Jihad Rehab), which I talked about a bit on #453. Having now watched the thing twice, I am putting this whole episode in at least the Top 10 of AYFKM cancellations. Every single person who contributed to the blackballing of this film should live their lives gasping in a cloud of their own shame until they apologize loudly for lying about and then kneecapping a perfectly great piece of documentary journalism. Beginning with the execrable Abigail Disney.

* Sadly for commenter Aaron, we did not on this last episode talk about the curious decision by the Libertarian Party to invite and then giddily promote the presidential nominee of the Republican Party to the Libertarian National Convention later this month. However, I did want to use the opportunity to give you listeners of this not-a-libertarian podcast a glimpse into life as a libertarian journalist.

On Friday, just before we hit the record button, I tweeted out (without any additional commentary or alteration) a quote that Libertarian Party Chair Angela McArdle was reported to have said on the podcast of former L.P. presidential candidate-turned Republican Trump-supporter Austin Petersen: “My loyalty has to be to the Libertarian Party … but Donald Trump is a much better person and president than Joe Biden.” After we stopped recording, I glanced at my Twitter feed, and the thing had absolutely blown up with people outraged and disgusted at me, beginning with McArdle herself, who said “You know you misquoted me,” and accused me of “Intentionally misquoting” her “to stir shit up.” Serious accusations!

I was then branded a “regime libertarian” with “TDS” who works for “@ReaCNNMagazine” (they like that one) and enjoys “waxing poetic about neocons and covid masks.” The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire tweeted: “Keep reeeeeeeeeeeeing, Reason journalists. Maybe consider changing your name to Progressive Neoliberal magazine.” I was accused of “intentionally misrepresent[ing]” McArdle’s comments, and commanded to “Delete your ‘quote’ and apologize.” The smoking gun for my alleged journalistic chicanery? “What is in the ellipsis, Welch?”

So I went to the tape of the interview, to indeed see what was in the ellipsis, in case I had somehow amplified Petersen doing McArdle dirty. He … did not. Here, in full, is what was in the ellipsis:

, right? Because I’m literally, like, I am the fiduciary.

A longer chunk of the same exchange:

Petersen: "Can you at least say one nice thing about Donald Trump, that amongst Libertarians and Donald Trump, we do all share the same enemies, do we not?"

McArdle: "Oh certainly, yeah. Absolutely. I mean, my loyalty has to be to the Libertarian Party, right? Because I’m literally, like, I am the fiduciary. But Donald Trump is a much better person and president than Joe Biden. There’s no contest, you know. And, you know, we’re all hoping and praying that if he’s elected he does, you know, a good job."

And, since I went to the trouble, here was another noteworthy call-and-response from earlier in the interview:

Petersen: “What do you think of Donald Trump?”

McArdle: “I think he has--I wish that he would get back on Twitter, that’s, you know, I really wish he would get back on Twitter. That’s, that’s what I think. I think he’s hilarious. You know, as chair of the national Libertarian Party I’ve got to support our Libertarian candidate. But I appreciate his willingness to come and put the media spotlight on us. I think that’s really a great thing.”

I went back and responded to nearly everyone who accused me of malfeasance, correcting the record. Response? Crickets. None of this matters at all, but it’s a lil’ window into the joys of libertarian journalism, and also into the vibes of current Libertarian Party leadership.

* Let’s get more video! Here’s Jesse Singal (#111, #171) this week on Just Asking Questions, talking about the science of medical transitions and gender-affirming care:

* Hey, The Reason Roundtable is doing a live show in D.C. on June 6, and tickets are cheap! Come on out/up/down!

* Comment of the Week comes from Midwest Molly:

Re: what questions to ask an elderly relative:

Years ago, I asked my then-husband's grandfather about his childhood in Italy. Unsure where to start, I asked him what he used to eat for breakfast. He told me that there was an old man who would bring a goat around to families in the morning, and the kids would all run up with cups. The goat would then be milked directly into the cups for the kids to drink.

Then that led to him telling me about the local priest who had once given him a little bag of sweets. Tony was running down the hills back to his Aunt's home with the candy and he fell off a cliff, breaking his leg. It was a terrible break, with the bone sticking out.

Some men working nearby heard his screaming, and after some discussion, they put him in a wheelbarrow and brought him to the butcher. The butcher set his leg for him.

I honestly just thought he was going to tell me they ate toast for breakfast.

For walkoff music I was all set to tee up some sweet Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway, but listener Mike S. just wrote in, “In remembrance of my older brother and our mutual love for The Big Lebowski, perhaps you can make this the outro music sometime.” So let’s hand the mic over to Mr. Townes Van Zandt: