It seems to me that we can't get better. We can't become the kinds of people that democracies require

if we keep lying to ourselves about who we are. And I think being honest, that decency isn't the

defining attribute of the American public. It's something that we aspire to be.

But as human beings, right, we are fraught and fallen. And we can tell a story about that.

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

A former mayor, a military expert, and a college professor walk into a bar.

Well, not exactly a bar.

More like a podcast studio.

It's a tale as old as time, but this week I knew I had to do something special.

This conversation was sparked by a fiery conversation we had on the broadcast, but this one comes without the constraints of television or commercials or rules against swearing.

My guest today are three of the best people I know, three of the best people I get to talk to

about everything, and today we push them further than we've ever pushed them before.

So, without any further ado,

Princeton University professor Eddie Glead, former mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu,

and Atlantic staff writer Tom Nichols. Welcome for the best people.

That's it for the politeness. I think what I really want to ask you guys is about the assholes trying to destroy the country and the ordinary people with so much more skin

in the game, so much more courage when their moment to choose whether to do the brave and

uncomfortable thing comes to them saying yes,

while the people to whom the country is given everything, everything, seem to capitulate

every single time they're in the batters box. Eddie, I'll start with you on that phenomenon.

Maybe you're not as surprised and horrified by it as I am. Well, I'm horrified by it,

for sure. I think it points to a level of greed and selfishness that clearly threaten American

...