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211. Eli Lake on "Barista Socialists" and Why He's Proud of America

The journalist/podcaster on Glastonbury's death chants about the IDF, the curdled utopia of Zohran Mamdani, the doctor who wished harm on Texas flood victims, and other cultural ailments

Eli Lake, host of the Breaking History podcast, loves America. But what does that mean? We discuss the long unfinished experiment of our country, and the fashionable anti-semitism that’s swept colleges/the youngs, or as Eli calls them, “barista socialists.” We talk about how elite colleges fell apart, when the left becomes violent, and why valuing ideology over human lives is never a good look.

Also discussed:

  • Eli’s July 4 AI song is a BOP

  • Sarah tells Nancy she “looks older,” this goes over great

  • We knew we’d made it on YouTube when

  • Commenter warns: DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO!!

  • Eli explains how he makes his bangin’ AI songs

  • Third rails and Gen Xers

  • Spy Magazine!!!

  • Sarah doesn’t want to make Eli the point-person on antisemitism but …

  • “You suck, Bob Vylan!”

  • How shockingly close boredom is to death lust

  • “It goes back to the Books of the Maccabees…”

  • NYC mayoral politics: “Vote for the felon or for the fedayeen.”

  • The bill has come due for radical academics

  • Does Bernadine Dohrn deserve eternal contempt? Let’s discuss!

  • “Who is Menachem Begin?”

  • What young actor should play Ted Bundy?

  • Sarah has a FOURTH OF JULY SURPRISE!

Plus, heroes of the Texas floods, a Monica Lewinsky theory from the Middle East, Sarah falls asleep listening to serial killer narratives, and much more!

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You can listen to Eli’s entire July 4 episode, but if you want to choke up and hear Eli’s bangin’ “If You Don’t Leave (We Gonna Fight),” start here (47:49)

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