Hot chat and cool topics, hosted by HotAir's Ed Morrissey twice a week.
Hot chat and cool topics, hosted by HotAir's Ed Morrissey twice a week.
For the past eleven days, protests have expanded across the entirety of Iran and have intensified. It now includes the merchant class in Tehran, which is the biggest difference from earlier popular movements, Gregg Roman of Middle East Forum explains. Learn why this changes the situation on the ground for the mullahs, what the West can and should do about it, and more importantly, what it shouldn't do.
They're celebrating 2026 in Venezuela, and the Maduros managed to get a Caribbean cruise, courtesy of the US Navy. Andrew Malcolm and I talk about the stunning seizure of Nicolas Maduro, what it says about the Trump administration, and how the media covered it. Plus: Are Democrats painting themselves into yet another corner by defending Maduro?
The media wants to make the conflict with Nicolas Maduro all about ideology and narcotics. Gregg Roman of Middle East Forum explains it goes much deeper. Hezbollah and the Iranian regime operate oil, narcotics, and terrorism rings that Maduro relies on to remain in power. We get into the real national security issues of having an Iranian puppet in the Western hemisphere.
Will Bari Weiss restore CBS News and 60 Minutes to greatness? If she's looking to find a new Andy Rooney, then Andrew Malcolm and Ed Morrissey have already begun to audition for the role. We discuss the fight over the pulled segment on deportations, Kamala Harris' new career on the speaking circuit, and what keeps Trump on top of his base.
Andrew Malcolm and I meet up after an avalanche of horrible news over the weekend. We discuss the terror attack in Australia that killed 15 people celebrating Hanukkah on the beach, a mass shooting at Brown University, and the heartbreaking murders of Rob Reiner and his wife. Has Australia missed the real lessons of the terror attack, or will its government deflect to pursue the progressive hobby horse agenda? Plus, we discuss the fragile grasp on humanity evident in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk assassination, even on certain fringe segments of the Right.
Has the Washington Post lost its way -- or has the outlet found it? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss their surprisingly clear and dispassionate analysis of Democrat disarray in Texas. We also talk about the sale of Warner Discovery and its potential impact on narrative amplification disguised as news.
Republicans face a key special election in Tennessee's 7th Congressional district. Did Donald Trump take too long to get on the ground in Nashville? Andrew Malcolm and I lay out the stakes for the GOP and Speaker Mike Johnson. We also talk about Andrew's dinner with William F. Buckley, and the column that Buckley wrote that never saw the light of day.
What does the departure of Marjorie Taylor Greene mean for Donald Trump and the GOP? Andrew Malcolm and I debate this political puzzler. We also talk about how Trump has approached the war in Ukraine, as well as his upcoming plan to deal with expiring ObamaCare subsidies.
Democrats pushed "temporary" expansions of ObamaCare subsidies during the pandemic. Now the deadline is approaching, and it's not just Democrats who want to avoid the implications. American Commitment's Phil Kerpen lays out the issues, the failures, and the entities who stand to benefit most in the negotiations. The bigger question is whether the US will have the fortitude to recognize the failures of health care policy and chart a new and very different rational course.
The future of the mullahs' regime in Tehran has become murky indeed after losing a war to Israel, having the US destroy its nuclear weapons development facilities, and now facing a severe water crisis. Author and human-rights advocate Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad discusses all of these issues, as well as the upcoming Free Iran Convention in Washington DC on November 15th. She tells us of her experiences under both the Shah and Ruhollah Khomeini, and why the National Council of the Resistance of Iran (NCRI) is best positioned to ensure a smooth transition from the theocratic regime to a secular representative republic.
Who won the Schumer Shutdown? Hint: It wasn't the man whose name it carries. Andrew Malcolm and I break down the breakdown over the weekend. We also talk about GOP messaging, and take a hard look at where SNAP funding goes.
Donald Trump took a victory lap on 60 Minutes Sunday, and Andrew Malcolm and I break it down. Chuck Schumer's midnight confessions come up as well. We also discuss new data on foreign money flowing into Democrat politics, and its impact on the party's orientation.
A new group on the Left has just diagnosed what ails the Democrats, and ... it won't come as any surprise. Andrew Malcolm and I talk about the warning from the Welcome project that radical politics means radical losses. Are there any moderates left in the party? I'm skeptical, but Andrew thinks one man may ride to the rescue.
What happened this weekend? Did America stand up to the monarchy, or did they turn out for anarchy? Andrew Malcolm and I reach way back to the Crimean War for a couple of reasons today, as well as the Battle of Rorke's Drift (IYKYK), and more. We dissect the Protection Racket Media's coverage of the No Kings rallies, and scoff at the idea that this has any significance other than a check box on the way to a Democrat retreat on the Schumer Shutdown.
Just how radically Left is Hollywood? Stunt man Erik Audé blows the lid off the stunt industry, where coordinators celebrate Charlie Kirk's assassination and threaten livelihoods of conservatives outraged over their rhetoric. Audé names names, discusses his friendship with Kirk, and the potential legal ramifications.
Few if any entertainers have been more engaged in supporting the hostages and their families than Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik. We discuss the joy of their release, the struggles facing those families who lost loved ones over the last two years, and the hard work by Donald Trump and his team to achieve what seemed impossible a week earlier. John has plenty to say about the warped moral compass of the entertainment industry, and its origins in Academia. We also discuss his upcoming tour, and his wife Carla's new book, Stop Trying!
The only people not to recognize Donald Trump's efforts for world peace seem to congregate in Oslo. Andrew Malcolm scolds the ignoble Nobel Committee, but remains a bit skeptical about how Trump pulled off his magic trick with Gaza. What side deals may have made this possible? Plus, we wonder how Democrats pushing the shutdown will deal with such an ascendant president without looking like ankle-biters. Finally, Andrew has technical issues whenever the Cleveland Browns come up, for some reason...
The Bari Weiss Era begins at CBS News. Will she restore credibility and fairness to the Tiffany Network, or will Weiss get buried by the progressive establishment at CBS? Andrew Malcolm seems more optimistic than I am about the prospects. We also discuss the changes this week at the Washington Post. Plus: What does the Schumer Shutdown tell us about our political culture -- and does anyone really care?
Are you self-sabotaging by "trying"? Carla Ondrasik explains how to break the cycle that holds us back in careers, relationships, and everything else in her new book, Stop Trying: The Life-Transforming Power of Trying Less and Doing More. Carla and I have a great conversation about the book, her journey, and her passion for helping people break through.
Five for Fighting star John Ondrasik returns for a wide-ranging interview. We talk about entrepreneurship and shopping carts, as well as his music. His wife Carla has a new book coming out as well. However, we then delve deep into the Jimmy Kimmel controversy and free speech, in which John speaks as a creator in both music and commentary. That takes us to the topic of the Charlie Kirk memorial, Donald Trump's speech at the UN, Ukraine, and much more!