The Fifth Column

Ben Rhodes and the Evil Empire State of Mind (#559)

The Fifth Column

Show Notes

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Check out Ben Rhodes new book: All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches -Ben Rhodes, wounded ’90s Knicks fan -Are we winning in Iran yet? -what should the President do with Iran right now? -Sanctions suck, mostly -Cuba and the Obama opening -Libya and the regime-change trap -Kosovo worked-ish -Responsibility to protect yourself from over-learning lessons -Rhodes wants institutions, not impulse wars -Is Ben Rhodes Tucker-adjacent? -Soft power, hard questions -Navalny didn’t want America’s money -When Reagan said “Evil Empire” -Reagan also change his mind -Moynihan accuses Rhodes of America pessimism -Ben says it’s because he loves America -Private equity killed the vibes -Nostalgia-nomics -The left-populist temptation -JD Vance talks pretty -National identity without a monoculture -Ben Franklin and the virtue of doubt -Experts are annoying but sometimes useful Read All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches (Bookshop | Amazon) Prefer to watch & chat live with other members of the Fifdom? This episode premieres over on our YouTube channel at 12PM EST. After 10 years, we’ve finally found a sponsor we actually like. Ground News pulls coverage of the same story into one place so you can compare headlines across sources and see how framing changes depending on the outlet. Subscribe for 40% off our Vantage plan using our unique link https://groundnews.com/fifth

More from The Fifth Column

Oct 28, 2026

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.wethefifth.com

Oct 22, 2026

-Fairfield, CT. Nov 12th. Get tickets while you can -We will have an Election Night livestream. Booze, guests, and probable disaster -Our mystery guest didn’t couldn’t make it today. We won’t name names, but we’ll give you some subtle clues. -Steve Witkoff discovered Vladimir Putin’s humanitarian side. -Trump has some thoughts about Zelenskyy. andPutin gets a pass. -Americans ranked their favorite countries. Where does Russia rank? -A very stiff competition for the Senate’s biggest idiot and the “Not One Inch” myth -the dumbest man in the Senate meets the dumbest man in media -Donald Trump and his love of men -Midterm Madness -Vivek vs. Amy Acton, and the attack ad from hell. -The tone and tenor of American politics is somehow worse than ever -Alina Habba, Ric Grenell, and the alleged $50 million pardon racket. -JD Vance answered a question about corruption. Ten thousand weasels applauded. Prefer to watch & chat live with other members of the Fifdom? This episode premieres over on our YouTube channel at 12PM EST. JOIN US: https://quickcenter.fairfield.edu/2026-27-season-calendar/lectures/the-fifth-column-podcast.html Follow The Fifth Column YouTube: @wethefifthInstagram: @we.the.fifthX: @wethefifthTikTok: @wethefifthFacebook: @thefifthcolumn

Oct 21, 2026

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.wethefifth.com

Oct 16, 2026

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.wethefifth.com

Oct 14, 2026

Yes, we want accolades. Yes, we’re shamelessly asking for your vote: VOTE for The Fifth Column as the Best News & Politics Show Yemisi Egbewole is here and we will figure out how to pronounce her name….next time -A Democratic consultant defending Fox News out of the gate -Was Mike Lindell ever really a crackhead? -Ladies and gentlemen, the new White House press secretary, Katie Zachariah -Did we fuck Scott Jennings? -How does a WH press secretary actually prepare? -Kimberly Guilfoyle’s $100,000 AmEx problem -James Talarico’s imaginary stay in an Ohio psych ward -the art of standing out among 435 members of Congress -Abdul El-Sayed vs Mike Rogers in Michigan -Jon Ossoff and the case for normal Democrats -JD Vance’s interesting definition of socialism -Midterm Madness on Zachariah, Alaska, and Michigan -Trump gets it right on data centers. Until he doesn’t. -Brian Kilmeade stands up for Ukraine against Rachel Compost Duffy -Come watch us live in Connecticut! -What exactly is Third Way? -Yemisi’s heresies on crime and climate -Immigration and the Jamaican-Nigerian experience -Kmele and the Blacks of Connecticut -Where is the Democratic Party headed, and how much does the DSA matter? Prefer to watch & chat live with other members of the Fifdom? This episode premieres over on our YouTube channel at 12PM EST.

See all episodes →