Welcome to episode

Welcome to episode 12 of the Charles C.W. Cook podcast.

Merry Christmas.

My apologies for missing last week's show.

I was traveling and then I got the brutal cold that's been going around.

And then I was traveling with the brutal cold that's been going around. And then I was traveling with the brutal cold that's been going around.

And between the microphones not fitting in my airplane seat

and my being unable to talk without sounding like a monster from a 1950s sci-fi movie,

the whole thing rather went by the wayside. But I am here now,

and I'm excited about this one. Before we get to my guest this week, Mike Rowe, I want to make

an appeal to my fellow conservatives to regain some optimism in their outlook.

In my Thanksgiving episode, I talked about how grateful I am for America and for the

Western world in general.

And I meant it.

That wasn't boilerplate.

I don't feel obliged to say it. I meant it. That wasn't boilerplate. I don't feel obliged to say it.

I mean it.

Now, there are, of course, a lot of problems in the United States right now.

I write and talk about them all the time.

That's my job.

I don't like this president either.

I am worried about our unsustainable spending too.

...