The Re-Education with Eli Lake

Donald Trump, just sworn in as the 47th president, was reelected to be a wrecking ball, a middle finger, the people’s punch to the Beltway’s mouth. And while this populist moment feels “unprecedented,” it’s not. The rebuke of the ruling class is encoded in our nation’s DNA.  We have seen populist leaders like Donald Trump before. He stands on the shoulders of Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot, Alabama governor George Wallace, and Louisiana legend Huey Long. There have been populist senators, governors, newspaper editors, and radio broadcasters. But only rarely has a populist climbed as high as President Trump. In fact, it has happened only once before.  The last populist to win the presidency was born before the American Revolution. He rose from nothing to become a great general. His adoring troops called him Old Hickory, and his enemies derided him as a bigamist and a tyrant in waiting. His name was Andrew Jackson, and he’s the guy who’s still on the 20 dollar bill.  On today’s debut episode of Breaking History, Eli Lake explains how Andrew Jackson’s presidency is the best guide to what Trump’s second term could look like.  Credits: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil and the Presidency; PBS

Transcribed - Published: 22 January 2025

The Re-Education host Eli Lake has a new show called Breaking History, brought to you by The Free Press. Breaking History breaks down the news, by breaking down history. Host Eli Lake covers everything from LBJ and the Roman Republic to Donald Trump and the chaos at Columbia. This twice a month show from The Free Press delivers the best historians, authors, and reporters by mining the archives of human experience to figure out the present. George Santayana wrote, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Follow the new show Breaking History to resist the repetition. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-history/id1790502779

Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2025

In this episode Eli examines the life of Menachem Begin when he was a wanted man in the years before the state of Israel was created. His guest is Daniel Gordis, author of Menachem Begin: The Battle for Israel's Soul.  Time Stamps: 00:20 Monologue 1:08:00 Interview with Daniel Gordis Follow Eli on Twitter Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2024

In this episode, Eli traces the history of Jews who use their words to side with the enemies of the Jewish people. His guest is the chief Rabbi of the Re-Education and the host of the Good Faith Effort podcast, Ari Lamm. Time Stamps: 00:20 Monologue 29:29 Interview with Ari Lamm Follow Eli on Twitter Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2024

In this episode, Eli looks at why so many elite institutions are afraid of firing those that engage in insubordination or are incompetent. His guest is Michael Moynihan, co-host of the Fifth Column and America's premier plagiarism cop.

Transcribed - Published: 23 December 2023

In this interview only episode, Eli talks to Jonah Goldberg, host of the Remnant Podcast and a founding editor of the Dispatch. They discuss the inevitability of a GOP Trump nomination and the recent warnings that a second Trump term will bring the end of democracy.  Follow Eli on Twitter Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2023

In this episode, Eli examines Kissinger's cunning when it came to working the refs of Washington, the press corps. Then he interviews the Re-Education's presidential historian, Tevi Troy about Kissinger and his recent trip to Israel.

Transcribed - Published: 8 December 2023

In this monologue only episode, Eli looks at why TikTok influencers are suddenly rediscovering Osama Bin Laden and what an earlier generation of terrorism apologists were saying in the months and years after 9-11.

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2023

In this episode, Eli interviews Sol Stern about his recent essay in Commentary on the history of Palestinian pogroms against Jews. https://www.commentary.org/articles/sol-stern/century-of-palestinian-jew-hatred/ His monologue examines why Israel's response to a genocidal act of terror is being slandered as a genocide.  Time Stamps:  00:22 Monologue 16:56 Interview with Sol Stern  Follow Eli on Twitter Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 17 November 2023

On Today's show, Eli talks with Nissan Dekalo, the deputy head of security for Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Nissan fought for more than eight hours on October 7 as he defended his Kibbutz from a wave of Hamas terrorists.

Transcribed - Published: 10 November 2023

31 years ago, Bill Clinton called out the vile rhetoric of a rapper-activist named Sister Souljah. Since then, her name has become a term for when a political leader practices gatekeeping for his party against radical foil. In this episode, Eli looks at her legacy and asks why Joe Biden has not turned the Israel haters in his own party into modern Sister Souljahs.

Transcribed - Published: 6 November 2023

In this episode, Eli interviews ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt about the rise in anti-Semitism after the October 7 pogrom. In his monologue, Eli offers advice for how decent people can fight the campus cretins who display solidarity with mutilators and rapists. Time Stamps: 00:09 Monologue 8:22 Interview with Jonathan Greenblatt

Transcribed - Published: 26 October 2023

In this show Eli examines why so many professors and intellectuals have expressed solidarity with the fanatic butchers of Hamas and the thinker who made radical violence cool, Frantz Fanon. His guest is Leon Wieseltier, the founder and editor of Liberties. Time Stamps:  00:27 Monologue  23:13 Interview with Leon Wieseltier Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2023

In this monologue only episode Eli shares his thoughts on the savage pogrom in Israel and how the barbarism of Hamas has made it clear that those who claim to be in solidarity with Palestine are traitors to this cause and why the mindset of the 1990s peace process is a spent force.

Transcribed - Published: 13 October 2023

This is both monologues stitched together from Eli's two part series on the Church Committee hearings from 1975. More original content is coming.

Transcribed - Published: 3 October 2023

In this long awaited episode, Eli dives back into the moment when America learned what its deep state did in the shadows.

Transcribed - Published: 19 September 2023

In this interview only episode, Eli talks with Semafor's global security editor, Jay Solomon about his recent essay in Tablet on Confederate spymaster Judah Benjamin. You can read this piece here. https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/history/articles/hunt-for-judah-p-benjamin-jewish-confederate-spy

Transcribed - Published: 14 August 2023

On this special episode, Eli joins Ink Stained Wretches podcast this week to discuss his favorite books and films in the genre of journalism. You can listen to more episodes of Ink Stained wretches here.

Transcribed - Published: 4 August 2023

In this very special episode, Eli explores the moment when Americans finally learned what their deep state did in the shadows. This monologue covers the period between Daniel Ellsberg's leak of the Pentagon Papers and the creation of the Rockefeller Commission to study the intelligence community's past abuses. His guests are James and Thomas Risen, the authors of a new biography of Senator Frank Church: The Last Honest Man. Time Stamps: 00:31 Monologue 48:55 Interview with James and Thomas Risen

Transcribed - Published: 30 June 2023

In this interview only episode Eli talks with Jonathan Rosen, the author of a stunning memoir about his friendship with a brilliant young man who loses his mind and commits a monstrous act of murder. The book, The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness and the Tragedy of Good Intentions is out now https://www.amazon.com/Best-Minds-Friendship-Madness-Intentions/dp/1594206570

Transcribed - Published: 8 June 2023

In this monologue only episode, Eli asks why CNN, allegedly the most trusted name in news, would employ the disgraced former deputy director of the FBI, Andrew McCabe? After the release of US Special Counsel John Durham's final report on Russiagate, McCabe's deceptions have been laid bare. And yet there he is on CNN helping to explain the news to people waiting for flights at airports.  Time Stamps: 00:15 Monologue

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2023

In this episode, Eli examines the end of the new media boom of the 2010s. His guest is Ben Smith, co-founder of Semafor and the author of Traffic. Time Stamps: 00:15 Monologue 18:57 Interview with Ben Smith

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2023

In this episode we meet some new RFK rivals like Frank Sinatra and J Edgar Hoover, and catch up with some old ones, like Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Hoffa. Eli's guest is Harvard Law School professor, Jack Goldsmith. Time Stamps: 0:25 Monologue 1:10:22 Interview with Jack Goldsmith Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 2 May 2023

"When Bobby hates you, you stayed hated." That's what the man's own father said about the most ruthless Kennedy. In this very special episode, Eli unpacks the legacy of RFK through the lens of his feuds, crusades and grudges. His guest is Tevi Troy, the Re-Education's presidential historian and the creator of 1600 Lessons. Time Stamps: 00:36 Monologue 56:00 Interview with Tevi Troy

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2023

In this episode, Eli's monologue looks at the prosecution of Donald Trump in Manhattan for a legally dubious interpretation of campaign finance law. Then he interviews Amber Athey, the Washington Editor of the Spectator Magazine about her new book, Snowflake Revolt. Time Stamps: 00:36 Monologue 13:36 Interview with Amber Athey Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 6 April 2023

In this episode Eli examines the sheer evil of the man who ruled Iraq before the 2003 war. His guest is David Wurmser, a former George W. Bush administration analyst who knows the story of the lead up to the Iraq war from the inside. Time Stamps: 00:34 Monologue  32:53 Interview with David Wurmser Questions? Comments? Email is at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2023

In this episode, it's just a conversation between Eli and Ari Lamm, the chief Rabbi of the Re-Education Podcast. They discuss the Book of Esther and the holiday of Purim. It's a rich discussion, enjoy. Eli will be back next week with a monologue and interview.  Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2023

In this very special episode, Eli looks at the moment when John Lennon stopped giving peace a chance and started hanging out with the black panthers. The guest is the editor at large for Reason Magazine, Nick Gillespie. To learn more about the Beatles in 1967, this is Andrew Hickey's podcast episode mentioned in the show. https://500songs.com/podcast/episode-150-all-you-need-is-love-by-the-beatles/ Time Stamps: 00:24 Monologue 1:01:25 Interview with Nick Gillespie

Transcribed - Published: 3 March 2023

In this episode, the Re-education talks to Jeff Gerth, a pulitzer prize winning investigative reporter about his recent series for Columbia Journalism Review on the media's coverage of Donald Trump and Russia. Read his series here. https://www.cjr.org/special_report/trumped-up-press-versus-president-part-4.php Time Stamps: 00:54 Monologue 23:29 Interview with Jeff Gerth Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 21 February 2023

This monologue only episode offers a brief history of content moderation on the internet. From the Communications Decency Act to the Twitter Files. It is based in part on Eli's recent essay in Commentary, American Nomenklatura. https://www.commentary.org/articles/eli-lake/twitter-files-reveal-american-nomenklatura/  Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2023

In this episode Eli examines why the government purports to protect so many secrets and how overclassification erodes democratic accountability. His guest is Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Brennan Center's Liberty & National Security Program Time Stamps:  00:21 Monologue  17:10 Interview with Elizabeth Goitein Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2023

In this episode, I examine how unrest in Iran, the Russian army and Chinese cities exposes the fragility of regimes that appear so imposing and unyielding from the outside. My guest is Mariam Memarsadeghi, the founder and director of the Cyrus Forum. We discuss the revolution in Iran and our hope for a free Iran in 2023. Time Stamps: 00:48 Monologue 13:10 Interview with Mariam Memarsadeghi Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2023

In this episode, I examine in the monologue how Christopher Hitchens migrated from the anti-imperialist left to become the most eloquent supporter for the liberation of Iraq. My guest, Michael Moynihan and I then discuss the life and writings of our friend and mentor. Time Stamps:  00:42 Monologue  26:14 Interview with Michael Moynihan Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 29 December 2022

In this monologue only episode I examine Christopher Hitchens' observation that America becomes a one party state every December. I argue that it's ok for non-Christians to tap their feet and hum along with the holiday music all around them. A lot of it is pretty good.  Time Stamps: 00:22 Monologue  Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 21 December 2022

In this episode Eli discusses the tension between populism and conservatism in the American right with Matthew Continetti, the author of a new intellectual history of the American right. Get Matt's book here.  Time Stamps: 00:32 Monologue  19:17 Interview with Matt Continetti  Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 19 December 2022

Happy Hanukkah. On today's show I tackle the story of a Jewish revolt against the Seleucid empire and how that revolt pitted assimilation against tradition and identity. My guest is Ari Lamm, the founder of SoulShop studios and the chief Rabbi of the Re-Education podcast. Questions? Comments? Email [email protected] Timestamps:  00:38 Monologue 21:30 Interview with Ari Lamm

Transcribed - Published: 15 December 2022

Today’s show delves into the history of movements that seek to blur the line between speech and violence, and why this conceit endangers the very democracy these voices claim to be protecting. The conflation of speech and violence is a big part of the context to the war over content moderation at Twitter 2.0. My guest is the very talented Damon Linker, the founder of the Eyes on the Right substack and a former columnist at the Week. Check out his substack here. https://damonlinker.substack.com/ Time Stamps:  00:23 Monologue 16:50 Interview with Damon Linker  Questions? Comments? Email [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 9 December 2022

In this episode Eli examines the legacy of J Edgar Hoover, the man who waged a political and psychological war against Martin Luther King and created the modern FBI. His guest is Yale Historian Beverly Gage, whose majestic new biography of Hoover paints a scathing and complex portrait of the first G man.  Time Stamps: 00:50 Monologue  38:21 Interview with Beverly Gage Questions? Comments? Email [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 2 December 2022

In this episode, Eli examines the difference between what Israel's leaders must do to survive and what Ukraine needs from the civilized world. He also talks with Harvard University emeritus professor of Yiddish literature, Ruth Wisse about her extraordinary essay in Commentary from May 2022 about the rise of Ukraine's Jewish president. https://www.commentary.org/articles/ruth-wisse/zelensky-jewish-hero/   Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 25 November 2022

In this episode, Eli examines the legacy of the trial and lynching of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager false accused of murdering a 13 year old girl. The trial helped launch the anti-defamation league, and the lynching was conducted by the haters who would relaunch the Ku Klux Klan. Eli's guest to discuss anti-Semitism and the ADL is the brilliance journalist and editor at Talbet, Liel Leibovitz.  Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 22 November 2022

The mid-terms delivered a clear signal to both Democrats and Republicans. The only problem is that Donald Trump and Joe Biden failed to get the message and are threatening a rematch in 2024. In this monologue only episode, Eli urges Trump and Biden to follow the example of Nancy Pelosi and step aside. Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 18 November 2022

In this episode, Eli previews the mid-term elections in America and makes the case for Republicans winning control of Congress. His guest is Washington based reporter Ben Jacobs. Time Stamps: 00:17 Monologue 20:16 Interview with Ben Jacobs Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 7 November 2022

This week's elections in Israel brought back Benjamin Netanyahu to power. He will form a coalition with a political party that seeks to deport disloyal Arab citizens of Israel. Jerusalem Post contributing editor, Lahav Harkov joins Eli to discuss what the next government means for the Jewish state.  Time Stamps: 00:27 Monologue  26:02 Interview with Lehav Harkov

Transcribed - Published: 4 November 2022

Elon Musk has done it. He's taken over Twitter. In this monologue only episode, Eli explains why he hopes Musk will return neutrality to the internet's town square and rebuild the trust that Twitter has squandered since 2021.  Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 28 October 2022

In this episode Eli talks with Andrew McCarthy about Special Counsel John Durham losing his second trial in his Russiagate investigation. It's strange that he brought two cases against bit players and hasn't charged senior FBI officials, despite presenting compelling evidence that the FBI investigation was riddled with errors and deceptions.  Time Stamps:  00:22 Monologue 16:02 Interview with Andrew McCarthy Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 21 October 2022

In this episode, Eli examines the parallels between the 20th century literary genius, Ezra Pound and the 21st century musical genius, Kanye West. Both men were brilliant artists and both were haunted by mental demons. Then Eli discusses Kanye's recent anti-semitic outbursts with Ross Anderson, whose recent piece in Tablet can be read here.  Time Stamps:  00:28 Monologue  23:39 Interview with Ross Anderson Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 19 October 2022

Since Vladimir Putin launched his war of conquest against Ukraine, his regime has hinted that it may have to use nuclear weapons. So far, he has bluffed. But the threats in the last two weeks have gotten louder as his own army loses ground. Tim Morrison, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and expert on nuclear policy, joins Eli to talk about how to deter a wounded bear. Time Stamps: 00:40 Monologue 16:28 Interview with Tim Morrison Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 14 October 2022

If you create a super pac devoted to waging one side of the political cultural war, are you really saving democracy? Eli and Jamie Kirchick discuss the Lincoln Project. Time Stamps: 00:26 Monologue 15:33 Interview with Jamie Kirchick Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 12 October 2022

Ever since former FBI Associate Director Mark Felt outed himself as the source for the Washington Post's Watergate reporting, he has been praised as a kind of dissident hero. Over time, we've forgotten that Mark Felt's role in authorizing warrantless surveillance of American citizens. Eli's guest is historian Tim Naftali. Time Stamps: 00:16 Monologue 17:30 Interview with Tim Naftali Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 30 September 2022

In this special episode, the host of Hardcore History Dan Carlin talks with Eli about the similarities and differences between the American and Roman republics. Can we learn from the Roman Republic's decline and avoid the mistakes the great republic of antiquity made as it became a decadent empire? Click here for Carlin's great series on the death throes of the Roman Republic. Time Stamps: 00:38 Monologue 15:08 Interview with Dan Carlin Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact us at [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 23 September 2022