Podcast
RealClearInvestigations Podcast
Hosted by RCI · EN
Each week J. Peder Zane, Editor of RealClearInvestigations, and RCI Senior Reporter James Varney discuss the week’s best investigative reporting and speak with journalists about cracking challenging stories. Whether it’s culture, politics, or the markets, RealClearIInvestigations should be your source for in-depth reporting from a wide range of perspectives. From the publishers of RealClearPolitics.com
30episodes
Episodes
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He Fought DEI and DEI Won: Dr. Kendall Conger and Duke Health | RealClearInvestigations Podcast #123
5d ago00:45:14Tap to summarizeOn this week’s episode of the RealClearInvestigations Podcast, J. Peder Zane and James Varney speak with Dr. Kendall Conger who lost his job after challenging a 2021 statement issued by his employer – Duke Health – declaring racism a “public health crisis.” On the news round-up, Zane and Varney discuss the challenges of reporting on the Iran war – and peace deal – when the government seems loath to share details; the Reform Party’s withering report on the Rape Gang controversy in the UK; and the popular support for Luigi Mangione, who is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City in 2024. 00:00 Introduction and Overview of Current Events 05:04 The Grooming Gangs Report and Its Implications 10:02 Media Bias and the Impact on Society 15:11 Dr. Kendall Conger's Experience with DEI at Duke Health 24:12 The Impact of George Floyd's Death on Institutional Policies 30:04 The Debate Over Racism as a Public Health Crisis 36:02 Personal Experiences and Consequences of Speaking Out 39:58 The Shift in Institutional Values at Duke University Articles Discussed in This Podcast: Kendall Conger/RCI: I Challenged Duke’s DEI Dogma – and Paid With My Job Axios: U.S.-Iran deal: Read the full text Reform Party: UK: The Rape Gang Inquiry NPR: Public Support Growing for Accused Killer Luigi Mangione Sign up for the RealClearInvestigations Newsletter. Watch each episode on the RealClearPolitics YouTube ChannelContact us with your thoughts and feedback: jpederzane@realclearinvestigations.com
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Crossing the Political Divide with Robert P. George | RealClearInvestigations Podcast #122
2w ago01:00:22Tap to summarizeOn this week’s episode of the RealClearInvestigations Podcast, J. Peder Zane and James Varney speak with Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, about the national civics education he has spearheaded and how to have conversations across the political divide. On the news round-up, Zane and Varney discuss a range of articles responding to the violence that erupted in England and Belfast following racially charged incidents. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote 01:30 Current Events and Political Climate 03:52 Racial Inequality and Public Response 06:16 Media Framing and Public Perception 09:44 Civics Education and Its Importance 13:01 Interview with Robert George on Civics Education 20:32 The Shift in Academic Focus 24:25 Conservative Perspectives in Academia 31:17 The Pursuit of Truth and Intellectual Humility 32:04 The Role of Academic Freedom in Education 33:25 Bridging the Gap: Intellectual Honesty in Discourse 37:34 Navigating the Age of Feeling and Humility 48:44 The Machinery of Dispute Resolution in Democracy 56:35 Hope vs. Optimism: The Future of American Democracy Articles Discussed in This Podcast: Robert P. George Official Websitehttps://robertpgeorge.com/ Robert P. George X Accounthttps://x.com/McCormickProf Video: Robert P. George in Conversation with Cornel Westhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwBxVjkOeV0 New York Times: In the U.K., a Violent Cycle: Hateful Attacks, Right-Wing Agitation and Riots https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/world/europe/northern-ireland-stabbing-immigration.html Atlantic: How Britain Became as Poor as Mississippi https://archive.is/6q9Gp Telegraph: Erect Sea Barrier Off Belgium To Halt Migrant ‘Taxi Boats,’https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/belgians-propose-sea-barrier-halt-151307951.html Sign up for the RealClearInvestigations Newsletter. Watch each episode on the RealClearPolitics YouTube ChannelContact us with your thoughts and feedback: jpederzane@realclearinvestigations.com
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Fascism On the March? with Joel Kotkin | RealClearInvestigations Podcast #121
3w ago00:54:02Tap to summarizeOn this week’s episode of the RealClearInvestigations Podcast, J. Peder Zane and James Varney speak with Joel Kotkin about his recent article for RCI exploring how and why fascism has become a buzzword of American politics. On the news round-up, Zane and Varney use a City Journal piece suggesting why fraud in Medicaid and Medicare seems an unsolvable problem to discuss a Wall Street Journal article detailing how autism therapy has become a hotbed of billing abuse and a Daily Caller story on rampant fraud in Obamacare. They also discuss John R. Lott Jr.’s recent RCI article on data showing that violent crime is declining even as more Americans – especially women, blacks and Hispanics – are carrying firearms and an article in the Free Press reporting on policies that have helped significantly lower the murder rate in Baltimore. 00:00 Introduction and News Roundup 07:04 Fraud in Government Spending 12:07 Rising Gun Ownership and Crime Rates 18:27 Understanding Fascism: A Historical Perspective with Joel Kotkin 25:53 The Role of Religion in Fascism 26:22 The Fascism Debate: Trump and Historical Context 30:04 Nationalism and Patriotism: A Shift in Perception 32:44 Weaponization of Language in Political Discourse 36:24 Democratic Socialism: Ideals vs. Reality 41:19 The Ascendancy of the Left in the Democratic Party 48:53 Anti-Semitism and Political Extremism: A Dual Concern Articles Discussed in This Podcast: Joel Kotkin/RCI: The Strange Afterlife of Fascism | RealClearInvestigations City Journal: Why Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Won’t Go Away Wall Street Journal: Autism Therapy Hotbed of Billing Abuse Daily Caller: Obamacare Enrollment Fraud May Cost Taxpayers Billions In 2026 RCI: Gun Safety: Violent Crime Drops as More Americans Pack Heat Free Press: Why Did the Murders Stop in Baltimore? Sign up for the RealClearInvestigations Newsletter. Watch each episode on the RealClearPolitics YouTube ChannelContact us with your thoughts and feedback: jpederzane@realclearinvestigations.com
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Antisemitism and Sharia Law in America with Andrew Bostom | RealClearInvestigations Podcast #120
4w ago01:04:52Tap to summarizeOn this week’s episode of the RealClearInvestigations Podcast, RCI Editor J. Peder Zane and RCI Senior Reporter James Varney speak with author Andrew G. Bostom about the rise of Shariah law in the U.S. and the EU and challenges it poses to those western laws, customs and society. On the news round-up, Zane and Varney use a Tablet article saying the U.S. has few good options in Iran to discuss some lessons we have learned so far from the ongoing conflict. They also discuss what sky-high tickets prices to see the New York Knicks play in the NBA finals say about America’s wealth gap and what two stories about Sweden – one in Europe Today, the other in the Wall Street Journal – tell us about mass immigration and social cohesion. 00:00 Introduction 04:52 Trump Cutting Bait in Iran?08:00 NBA Championships and the High Cost of Tickets 09:43 WSJ World’s Most Surprising Capitalist Makeover 11:00 Sharia Law and Its Implications 15:53 Interview with Andrew Bostom on Islam and Sharia 32:44 Global Perspectives on Sharia Law 39:03 Theological Roots of Anti-Semitism in Islam 51:50 Islamic Theology and Historical Context 54:40 Challenges of Discussing Islamic Anti-Semitism 01:03:11 The Future of Pluralism and Freedom Books & Articles Discussed in This Podcast: Paul; Sperry/RCI: GOP Battles Sharia: Is Islamic Law a Threat or Dog Whistle? Paul Sperry/RCI: Sharia’s Growing Influence on U.S. Finance Andrew G. Bostom: The Legacy of Jihad Andrew G. Bostom: The Legacy of Islamic Antisemitism Andrew G. Bostom: A Modern Qur’anic Kampf Against the Jews Tablet: Trump Tries to Cut Bait in Iran New York Times: Knicks Fans Are Stunned by Four-Figure Ticket Prices Europe Today: Sweden Approves Law Banning Cousin Marriages and Close Relative Unions Wall Street Journal: The World’s Most Surprising Capitalist Makeover Is Under Way in Sweden Sign up for the RealClearInvestigations Newsletter. Watch each episode on the RealClearPolitics YouTube ChannelContact us with your thoughts and feedback: jpederzane@realclearinvestigations.com
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The News Business Meltdown with Patrick Steel | RealClearInvestigations Podcast #119
May 2300:59:41Tap to summarizeOn this week’s episode of the RealClearInvestigations Podcast, RCI Editor J. Peder Zane and RCI Senior Reporter James Varney speak with Patrick Steel, the former CEO of Politico who is now a Senior Advisor to Antenna Group, about the changing landscape of the media business. On the news round-up, Zane and Varney discuss articles published by Reuters and the Washington Post that detail Iran’s confounding stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz as well as a piece in the Atlantic that raises questions about the US government’s official narrative regarding the deadly collision of two American refueling planes over Iraq. They also examine how two articles – the National Review’s analysis of the explosion in autism diagnoses and the City Journal’s report on the transplants driving Los Angeles’ homeless problems – illustrate how the wrong incentives can exacerbate social problems and social spending. 00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Podcast 08:21 Iran's Influence on International Shipping 16:07 The Evolving Media Landscape 31:14 The Future of Legacy Media 31:55 The Evolution of Regional Journalism 34:00 The Impact of Billionaire Backers on Media 37:31 The Tension Between Audience and Ownership 42:35 The Rise of Authenticity in Journalism 49:23 Transparency and Trust in Modern Media 56:45 Investing in the Future of Journalism Articles Discussed in This Podcast: Patrick Steel Bio: Patrick Steel - NYU Stern Reuters: Iran Consolidating Control of Strait of Hormuz Washington Post: Ship’s Crew Risked the Strait, Met Hail of Bullets Atlantic: What the Pentagon Didn’t Say About a Deadly Crash National Review: Autism Overdiagnosis Is a National Scandal City Journal: LA a Magnet for Nation's Homeless Sign up for the RealClearInvestigations Newsletter. Watch each episode on the RealClearPolitics YouTube ChannelContact us with your thoughts and feedback: jpederzane@realclearinvestigations.com
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Stopping Dogs From Becoming Lab Rats with Leighton Woodhouse | RealClearInvestigations Podcast #118
May 1500:47:33Tap to summarizeOn this week’s episode of the RealClearInvestigations Podcast, RCI Editor J. Peder Zane and RCI Senior Reporter James Varney speak with Leighton Woodhouse about his RCI article on the surprising partnership between left-leaning activists and MAGA influencers to oppose a farm that breeds beagles for scientific experiments. The New York Times is the focus on this week’s news roundup. Zane and Varney discuss a Times article reporting that the Trump administration has vastly exaggerated the war’s impact on Iran’s military; a controversial piece by Times columnist Nicholas Kristof claiming Israeli soldiers, security forces and their dogs raped Palestinian men and women, and a look at the multiple articles the Times has run on Trump administration’s $13 million no-bid contract to fix the Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C. even as the paper has paid little attention to the massive government fraud scandals unfolding across the country. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 14:29 Animal Testing and Ridgeland Farms 20:54 Activism and the Beagle Rescue Efforts 30:35 Bipartisan Support for Animal Rights 35:50 Journalistic Integrity in Activism Reporting Articles Discussed in This Podcast: Leighton Woodhouse/RCI: How Opposition to Animal Testing Is Bridging the Political Dividehttps://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2026/05/12/how_opposition_to_animal_testing_is_bridging_the_political_divide_1182121.html New York Times: U.S. Intelligence Shows Iran Retains Strong Missile Capabilities https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/politics/iran-missiles-us-intelligence.html?emc=edit_na_20260512 Nicholas Kristof/NYT: Opinion | The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/opinion/israel-palestinians-sexual-violence.html New York Times: Trump Says He’s Renovating ‘Filthy’ Reflecting Pool on the National Mall https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/23/us/politics/trump-reflecting-pool-renovation.html?searchResultPosition=5 New York Times: Trump Gave Out a No-Bid Contract to Turn D.C.’s Reflecting Pool Bluehttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/08/us/politics/reflecting-pool-trump-contract.html?searchResultPosition=1 New York Times: See How Trump Is Renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Poolhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/politics/trump-reflecting-pool-renovation.html?searchResultPosition=2 New York Times: Reflecting Pool Repairs Appear Uneven and Behind Schedule, Officials Sayhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/politics/lincoln-memorial-pool-repairs.html?searchResultPosition=3 New York Times: Reflecting Pool Repairs to Cost $13.1 Million. Trump Had Promised $1.8 Million. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/11/us/politics/reflecting-pool-paint-contract-trump.html?searchResultPosition=4 Daily Wire: Ohio's Massive Medicaid Fraud Loophole https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-says-safeguards-exist-to-stop-medicaid-fraud-but-admits-massive-loophole?row=0 Sign up for the RealClearInvestigations Newsletter. Watch each episode on the RealClearPolitics YouTube ChannelContact us with your thoughts and feedback: jpederzane@realclearinvestigations.com
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Progressivism’s Russian Playbook with Gary Saul Morson | RealClearInvestigations Podcast #117
May 801:04:08Tap to summarizeOn this week’s episode of the RealClearInvestigations Podcast, RCI Editor J. Peder Zane and RCI Senior Reporter James Varney speak with Gary Saul Morson, a professor of Arts and Humanities at Northwestern University and a scholar of Russian literature about what Dostoevsky can teach us about modern progressives. In our round-up of the week’s best investigative reporting, Zane and Varney discuss a Wall Street Journal article about China’s stranglehold on drone production, Roger Pielke Jr.’s Substack piece on a dramatic change in climate change forecasts, and a Daily Wire story on the Los Angeles arsonists who drew inspiration from the assassin Luigi Mangione. 00:00 Introduction and Overview of Current Events 03:13 The Impact of Chinese Supply Chains on U.S. Defense 05:58 Climate Change Narratives and Scientific Realities 09:10 The Ideological Underpinnings of Violence in Society 12:07 Interview with Professor Gary Saul Morrison on Communism and Ideology 14:45 Dostoevsky's Insights on Modern Progressivism 17:53 The Role of the Intelligentsia in Revolutionary Movements 20:59 The Normalization of Violence in Political Discourse 24:09 Comparisons Between Historical and Modern Revolutionary Movements 32:44 The Role of Liberals in Political Change 34:00 The Dangers of Labeling Political Opponents 38:21 Lessons from History: The Power of the Majority 41:13 The Importance of Literature and Universal Values 47:16 The Psychology of Political Identity 51:32 The Challenge of Compromise in Democracy 55:22 The Role of Science in Political Ideology 01:01:04 The Transformative Power of Literature Articles Discussed in This Podcast: Gary Saul Morson: Re-Possessed – Commentary Magazine Gary Saul Morson: Solzhenitsyn Warned Us – Commentary Magazine Gary Saul Morson: The Return of the ‘Useful Idiot’ – Commentary Magazine Gary Saul Morson: The Red Star Returns - The New Criterion Gary Saul Morson: Marxism Is a Gulag of the Mind - WSJ Wall Street Journal: U.S. Targets China's Stranglehold on Drone Production Roger Pielke Jr. Substack: New Climate Report Eliminates Most Extreme Scenarios Daily Wire: LA Arson Suspect Obsessed Over Luigi Mangione Sign up for the RealClearInvestigations Newsletter. Watch each episode on the RealClearPolitics YouTube ChannelContact us with your thoughts and feedback: jpederzane@realclearinvestigations.com
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The COVID Cover-Up with Paul D. Thacker | RealClearInvestigations Podcast #116
May 100:48:18Tap to summarizeOn this week’s episode of the RealClearInvestigations Podcast, RCI Editor J. Peder Zane and RCI Senior Reporter James Varney speak with Paul D. Thacker about his RCI article which details the central yet largely hidden role played University of North Carolina virologist Ralph Baric in both the risky scientific work that may have created the virus that causes COVID-19 and the subsequent campaign to suppress public debate about its origins. In our round-up of the week’s best investigative reporting, Zane and Varney discuss a Wall Street Journal article about the sources of political violence, a Washington Post story on the Trump administration’s effort to bring a venture capital mindset to the Pentagon, and a wide range of reports from PJ Media, the Federalist, the National Review and Fox News on the Trump administration efforts to highlight alleged wrongdoing by the Biden administration. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 02:55 Political Violence and Media Responsibility 05:58 Pentagon's Venture into Silicon Valley 08:59 COVID Cover-Up and Indictments 12:00 Ralph Baric and the Origins of COVID 15:09 Gain of Function Research and Its Implications 25:38 The Personnel Matter and Media Response 26:30 The Start of the Cover-Up 27:41 Gain of Function Research Explained 29:39 The Role of Media in Scientific Discourse 31:15 Intel Briefings and Lab Accident Possibilities 33:00 The Science Community's Response to COVID 36:09 Financial Motivations Behind the Cover-Up 39:35 The Implications of Scientific Research Funding 42:10 The Future of Gain of Function Research 44:10 The Need for Accountability in Science and Politics Articles Discussed in This Podcast: Paul D. Thacker/RCI: COVID Cover-Up: Hiding Star Researcher Ralph Baric’s Ties to Global Pandemic Wall Street Journal: Anti-Government Violence Hits 30-Year High Washington Post: Turning the Pentagon into a Venture Capital Firm New York Review of Books: Rebooting the Pentagon PJ Media: Top Fauci Aide Indicted for Concealing COVID Records Federalist: Did Politicized DOJ Scuttle Clinton Foundation Probe? Federalist: Did Biden Agency Try To Hide Planned Parenthood Loans? National Review: DOJ: Biden Admin Persecuted Conservative Christians Fox News: Claim: 'Mother Lode' of Russiagate Files in FBI Burn Bags Sign up for the RealClearInvestigations Newsletter. Watch each episode on the RealClearPolitics YouTube ChannelContact us with your thoughts and feedback: jpederzane@realclearinvestigations.com
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California Dream Turns Nightmare with Susan Crabtree | RealClearInvestigations Podcast #115
Apr 2500:47:50Tap to summarizeOn this week’s episode of the RealClearInvestigations Podcast, RCI Editor J. Peder Zane and RCI Senior Reporter James Varney speak with RealClearPolitics reporter Susan Crabtree about her new book (co-authored with Jed McFatter) “Fool’s Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All.” In our round-up of the week’s best investigative reporting, Zane and Varney discuss articles in the Washington Free Beacon and USA today on the federal indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center stemming from its payment of some $3 million from 2014 to 2023 to members of the KKK, Aryan Nations, National Alliance, and other "violent extremist" groups who allegedly served as informants and a New York Times article about people who lost their jobs when the Trump administration shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 01:07 Indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center 06:08 Critique of USAID and Its Impact 11:11 Introduction to Susan Crabtree and Her Book 13:59 California's Failed Policies and Their Consequences 20:01 Media's Role in California's Issues 22:49 California's Infrastructure and Union Influence 24:30 Transforming Transportation in California 26:20 The Homelessness Crisis: A Deep Dive 29:10 The Role of NGOs and Nonprofits 32:33 Corruption and Accountability in California 36:26 Gavin Newsom's Ties to China 42:25 The Future of California Politics Articles Discussed in This Podcast: Susan Crabtree & Jed McFatter: “Fool’s Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All.” Washington Free Beacon: Southern Poverty Law Center's Off-Shore Riches USA Today: FBI: SPLC Paid Informants Without Donors Knowing. Feds Pay Them Too Data Republican: How the Charlottesville Rally and SPLC Birthed Billion-Dollar-Plus ‘Democracy’ Ecosystem New York Times: A Year After U.S.A.I.D.’s Death, Fired Workers Find Few Jobs and Much Loss Sign up for the RealClearInvestigations Newsletter. Watch each episode on the RealClearPolitics YouTube ChannelContact us with your thoughts and feedback: jpederzane@realclearinvestigations.com
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Al Gore and the Politicization of Science | RealClearInvestigations Podcast #114
Apr 1700:59:10Tap to summarizeOn this week’s episode of the RealClearInvestigations Podcast, RCI Editor J. Peder Zane and RCI Senior Reporter James Varney speak with Roger Pielke Jr., a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, about his article detailing how Al Gore’s seminal 2006 book and film on climate change, “An Inconvenient Truth,” helped politicize science. In our round-up of the week’s best investigative reporting, Zane and Varney discuss Paul Sperry’s article for RCI on newly declassified documents showing how a top government official fast-tracked a politically compromised whistleblower complaint in 2019 that ultimately triggered the first impeachment of President Trump. They also discuss the sexual accusation that forced Rep. Eric Swalwell to resign from Congress – and why this evidently widely-known questions about his conduct had not been reported until now. 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 01:00 Impeachment Insights and Partisan Politics 07:05 The Eric Swalwell Controversy 16:05 Legacy of Al Gore's Climate Advocacy 17:01 The Evolution of Climate Change Discourse 22:08 Current Understanding of Climate Science 28:00 Global Perspectives on Climate Change 29:14 Decarbonization and Energy Sources 31:28 The Politicization of Science 38:35 Millenarianism in Climate Science 42:47 Finding Common Ground in Climate Policy 46:38 The Impact of COVID on Public Trust 50:39 The Future of Academia and Climate PolicyArticles Discussed in This Podcast: Roger Pielke Jr.: The Legacy of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" 20 Years Later Paul Sperry, CI: BREAKING: Newly Declassified Docs Reveal Bias of Impeachment 'Whistleblower' Paul Sperry, RCI: The Beltway's 'Whistleblower' Furor Obsesses Over One Name Washington Post: How Eric Swalwell Rose Despite Disturbing Reputation American Prospect: Eric Swalwell and the Death of Accountability Sign up for the RealClearInvestigations Newsletter. Watch each episode on the RealClearPolitics YouTube ChannelContact us with your thoughts and feedback: jpederzane@realclearinvestigations.com
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