The Federalist Radio Hour

Gabby Morrongiello, reporter for the Washington Examiner, weighed in on the first democratic presidential debate on today’s Federalist Radio Hour. She discussed Hillary Clinton’s successes on stage, Bernie Sander’s missed opportunities, and other highlights from the night. “[Bernie] is closing in on her in the polls and I think this was the one opportunity he had to give himself an edge over her, and he didn’t take advantage of that last night and I think perhaps today he and his campaign are regretting that,” Morrongiello said. She also noted her disappointment in Donald Trump’s attempt to live-tweet the debate. “It was a bit boring, similar to what he described the democratic debate being.” Mark Hemingway, senior writer at the Weekly Standard, also joined the show to give his thoughts on the candidates, including potential candidate Joe Biden. “[Biden] has spent 43 years in either the Senate or the White House and he has next to nothing in terms of an actual legacy,” Hemingway said. “Joe Biden has always had this pathological need to be liked.” Finally, upcoming MLB playoff games were speculated with Dan McLaughlin, editor at RedState and Mets fanatic. “The major difference between the Mets and the Dodgers is that the Mets have this very deep front-end of their rotation,” McLaughlin said. “The Mets the really do have a much better offense. The Dodgers do not have the offense they had a few years ago.”

David Byler, elections analyst for RealClearPolitics, joins the Federalist Radio Hour to discuss the data behind election demographics and poll numbers. Later in the hour, Ben is joined by Dr. Roger Scruton, English philosopher and writer. As Hillary Clinton slowly loses support, democrats are starting to pay more attention to their other potential candidates, including the ones who haven’t announced their candidacy yet. “Biden is the break glass in case of emergency candidate in this scenario,” Byler said. “It’s easier to be a theoretical candidate than it is to be an actual candidate.” Byler explained the widget he built that allows scenarios to play out with candidates’ poll numbers. Users can make adjustments to see results as if other candidates were to drop out or not enter in the first place. Then, as a man with a foreigner’s perspective, Scruton discussed how America has retreated as a world leader. “It’s certain that President Obama will not be seen as a strong president,” he said. “What are we, the rest of the world, to do without American leadership?” After a conversation on free speech and the thought crime craze on college campuses, Ben asks the philosopher for his thoughts on Playboy’s recent announcement to cease publishing nudity. “Women without clothes are a wonderful thing, but only if they have beautiful bodies,” Scruton said.

The Federalist Radio Hour was hosted today by David Harsanyi, senior editor at the Federalist, and Bill McMorris, reporter at the Washington Free Beacon. After recent news that House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy dropped out of the race for Speaker, the media is asserting that Washington is in chaos and that the disarray of the Republican party is a bad sign. Harsanyi and McMorris suggest that the media forgets this is how Congress is suppose to work. “The House is the most democratic institution we have, but yet when there is actual democracy going on and people aren’t lock-stepping, they act as if everything is falling apart,” Harsanyi said. The hosts also move to discussions about potential candidates for the Speaker position, as well as Ben Carson’s latest comments on gun control. Carson suggested that if the Jews in the Holocaust had been armed, then things might not have been as bad as they were. “I think that’s a little nuts, which is how Carson usually comes across to me,” Harsanyi said. Later in the hour, Rebecca Cusey joins to discuss the recently released movie, The Martian, as well as other upcoming films to look forward too. The hosts debate the notion of prequels and whether Star Wars movies were actually good or if we are just nostalgic about them. Finally, writer for the Washington Free Beacon, Brent Sher joins tells us why Obama is not the sports fan he portrays himself to be. “Obama exposed himself as a complete fraud as a White Sox fans,” Sher said. “Yesterday they asked him for in the playoffs, and he said he was rooting for the Cubs. I think this is the final straw that he is completely full of it on baseball.”

Helicopter parenting, politicalization of affirmative consent, and student debt up to the eyeballs are just a few of the issues facing kids today according to Robby Soave, staff editor for Reason magazine. Soave joined The Federalist Radio Hour today with Ben Domenech. Legislation is defining consent for anyone engaging in sexual activity as a response to the current sexual assault crisis on college campuses. “The affirmative consent is really sweeping the nation,” Soave said. “Tons of universities are putting them in place, even if their states are not requiring them to.” Soave and Domenech also discuss whether Rand Paul might be one of the likeliest candidates to drop out of the presidential election next. They wrap up the hour on the future of the Libertarianism in the U.S. “I think we do need to be aware of what the government is doing and fight them as they do try to limit those things,” Soave said. “I worry about kids being raised in these structured government environments where they are not actually learning to be free, creative people.”

Betsy Woodruff from the Daily Beast, and presidential candidate Carly Fiorina joined today’s Federalist Radio Hour to talk all things 2016. Presidential candidates Ben Carson and Donald Trump seem to be polar opposites when it comes to campaigning. However, they both share a pattern of unaffiliated organizations using their name to raise money in particular ways or PACs. “Super PACs pop up overnight,” Woodruff said. “The lesson is let the donor beware.” Fiorina joined the conversation to discuss the media’s reaction to her stance on the Planned Parenthood videos and suggests that people should pay attention to the amount of propaganda the media produces as opposed to facts. She also addresses recent rumors that money from Fiorinas foundation has given money to Planned Parenthood. It takes five seconds to know thats a false statement, she said. The hour wrapped up touching on eminent domain, the question of Joe Biden entering the race, and what we can expect to see next from Hillary Clintons campaign. 

Today on the Federalist Radio Hour, Josh Kraushaar discusses strategy behind the 2016 presidential campaign, other political news from the Hill, and recent statements from fantasy sports gambling websites. Kraushaar is the political editor at National Journal and editor-in-chief of the Hotline. As Donald Trump takes his first dip in poll numbers, Kraushaar says he thinks people have overestimated Trump’s staying power.  “The big question is, ‘What is the end game for Donald Trump?’” Ben and Kraushaar also discuss the strategy of a candidate’s super PAC and some of the challenges set to face Carly Fiorina. Neil Greenberg, reporter for the Washington Post, also joins the conversation on the latest in the MLB and tells us who is the best and the worst in the NFL mid-season. Greenberg says he hopes the Washington Nationals firing of Manager Matt Williams does not come as a surprise and that he hopes his replacement is someone more adaptable and flexible than Williams.

Today on the Federalist Radio Hour, Ben’s hosts John Schindler, national security columnist at the Observer, security consultant and former NSA analyst. They discuss Putin’s activity in Syria and the reactions of Russian citizens as well as the White House. Schindler tells Ben, “We are getting to the point where valid intelligence is going to get shut down because it’s not what the Obama administration wants.” They also discuss news of intelligence analysts at Central Command who have been commanded under the Chief of Intelligence to change their assessments and higher power’s “cherry-picking of intelligence.” Later in the hour, Schindler gives his take on what Congress should be asking Hillary Clinton about the motivations behind her emails and how the scandal has impacted her race for president. He suggests democrats should be hoping for Joe Biden to enter the race and Ben offers that, “Joe Biden’s career is one long expression of YOLO.” andnbsp; andnbsp;

Ridley Scott’s The Martian has rocketed to the top of box offices everywhere. Today on Federalist Radio, Ben hosts a space symposium to explore the science and theatrics behind the film. First, Sonny Bunch reviews the film artistically. The Free Beacon film critic maintains that the “almost anti-cinematic movie become fantastic” purely on the strength of Matt Damon’s “compelling performance.” Then, Mike Grusak of the USDA Nutrition Research Center asks whether Matt Damon could actually survive on Mars by potatoes alone. Finally the Science Editor of Smithsonian Magazine, Victoria Jaggard explains how Andy Weir’s blog posts became The Martian blockbuster.

Celebrity chef and culinary media personality, Christopher Kimball joins Federalist Radio to demystify the kitchen. The host of America’s Test Kitchen and editor of Cook’s Illustrated, Kimball explains his food philosophy. He argues that “cooking is not an art. Food is functional...I’ve adopted a very practical approach.” Originally a Columbia graduate with a degree in Primitive Art, Kimball launched a gourmet cooking career in the early 1980’s according to a simple and original recipe: “stubbornness, stupidity, and energy.” Since then, the chef has pioneered one of the most uniquely authentic and successful culinary brands.

On today’s special edition of Federalist Radio, Senior Editor, Mollie Hemingway guest-hosts for Ben. She recaps the marathon, five-hour Congressional testimony of Planned Parenthood CEO, Cecile Richards. Joined by Sarah Torre of the Heritage Foundation, the two offer a play by play of yesterday’s proceedings to highlight Pro-Life victories and missed opportunities. Later Anna Paprocki, chief counsel for Americans United For Life, discusses the legal ramifications of the hearing. Finally, and on a lighter note, David Harsanyi discuss the new rules of internet decorum.

Stephanie Edelman joins Federalist Radio to discuss the retro-sexism phenomenon and why so many modern women seek inspiration from the vintage ideal of classic Americana.  The writer tells Ben that more than ever “it’s frowned upon to have kids and be married before 30. She explains that, in reaction, many women choose so-called retro sexism as a way to reclaim feminism, “to believe that [it] is about women doing what makes them happy, not about fitting into some preordained academy orthodoxy.” Later, Kelsey Harkness of the Daily Signal reports on Planned Parenthood’s hearing before crisis. Then Noah Rothman of Commentary Magazine speaks to Carly Fiorina’s ability to actualize her political potential and win the presidency.   

Governor Jeb Bush is in first place in his Fantasy Football league. From the campaign trail, the presidential hopeful joins Federalist Radio to show his lighter side. To unwind, Governor Bush sets his fantasy lineup and he boasts that this year he’s 3-0. He has “one long word” of advice for any Fantasy Football fans, “Gronkowski, he’s my man. I’ll go up against Trump or anyone else with him.” Bush also opens up to Ben about his conversion to Catholicism, his gubernatorial record in Florida, and his defense of the unborn. Later in the program, Neil Greenberg of the Washington Post recaps the NFL’s Week 3. Then from overseas, Jan Marot discusses the push for Catalonia’s independence.

For Federalist Radio, Katherine Mangu-Ward separates fact from fiction in the “paper or plastic debate.” The editor of Reason Magazine tells Ben that plastic bags have been carelessly demonized. She reports that although “plastic bag bans are largely symbolic,” the plastic prohibition has led to serious unintended consequences like creating corrupt kickbacks in the public sector and breading dangerous diseases in private homes. During a robust discussion, the Reason editor touches on the free fall in food prices, the state of immigration reform, and the future of Flamin Hot Cheetos. Click here to subscribe, or use the embedded link below to listen.

The US Military has been pressuring analysts to cook the intel books in an effort to paint a more positive picture of American offensive action against ISIS reports Shane Harris. The Senior National Security Correspondent for the Daily Beast joins Federalist Radio to share his exclusive findings. Harris tells Ben that over 50 intelligence pros have filed formal complaints with US Central Command against their supervisors. They say that higher ups have been “deleting key passages and pressuring analysts to say attacks are going well.” As a result, only “the mostly positive reports get passed along” and US intelligence suffers. Later Senior Politics writer for Buzzfeed, McKay Coppins, reports on campaign dropout, Governor Scott Walker. And John Siciliano of the Washington Examiner explains how politics, faith, and climate change intersect during Pope Francis’ American visit.

After partnering with CNN to moderate the second GOP debate, radio show host and media provocateur, Hugh Hewitt, debriefs with Ben. Known as one of the most aggressive interviews in radio, he offers some poignant advice for future debate moderators this election cycle. “Develop a reputation for being tough on everybody so you can honestly say that you have no favorites.” Hewitt goes on to reject the idea that he “was muzzled by CNN” and says instead that the debate not only “went according to plan,” but resulted in “most substantive discussion of foreign policy that I’ve heard for three decades on a debate stage.” Later, Neil Greenberg of the Washington Post gives a play-by-play of NFL Week 2 and Joy Pullman of the Federalist gives Pope Francis some political advice.