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Artwork for Know Your Enemy

Know Your Enemy

Matthew Sitman
Donald Trump
Trump Administration
Democratic Party
Conservatism
Republican Party
American Conservatism
Elon Musk
Covid-19
MAGA Movement
Capitalism
Immigration
Democracy
Kamala Harris
Qanon
Protests
Garry Wills
Uncommitted Movement
Child Discipline
2024 Presidential Election
JD Vance

A leftist's guide to the conservative movement, one podcast episode at a time, with co-hosts Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes286Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Know Your Enemy

Latest Episodes

Listen to the rest of this premium episode by subscribing at patreon.com/knowyourenemy.

A sundowning, octogenarian president radically out of step with the country's mood, surrounded by Yes Men (and Women), cowards, and idiots, whose administration ... more

This episode is a free-wheeling conversation with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor about their superb (and superbly written) new book, End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World. Both terms in its title—"end times" and "fascism"—are ones we've... more

Listen to the rest of this premium episode by subscribing at patreon.com/knowyourenemy.

In this conversation, Matt and Sam range widely, beginning with Sam's recent NYT review of a book explaining how Hitler "dismantled a democracy in 53 days" then ... more

Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in American history, and it isn't close. Between his family's crypto business — designed to enable foreign oligarchs, criminals, and state actors to bribe the administration while enriching Trump and his fam... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Naomi Klein
Author and activist
Author and Activist
Episode: End Times Fascism (w/ Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor)
Jacob Silverman
Author of Gilded Rage, Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley; reporter at ICIJ
ICIJ; Gilded Rage
Episode: The Pump and Dump Presidency (w/ Jacob Silverman)
Aaron Regunberg
Episode: MAGA’s Fight for Animal Rights (w/ Astra Taylor & Aaron Regunberg) [Teaser]
Jasper Nathaniel
Independent journalist, proprietor of the Infinite Jazz Substack; writes about life in the West Bank, the settler movement, and archaeology's role in annexation
Independent journalist, Infinite Jazz Substack
Episode: Archaeology and Annexation in Palestine (w/ Jasper Nathaniel)
Samuel Moyn
Kent Professor of Law and History at Yale, author of Gerontocracy in America
Yale University
Episode: Gerontocracy in America (w/ Sam Moyn)
Jack Hanson
Writer, critic, scholar of religion
Columbia University (lecturer in English and comparative literature)
Episode: Pope Leo XIV's 'Magnifica humanitas' (w/ Jack Hanson)
Matt Dinan
Associate professor in the Great Books Program at St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, Canada; political theorist
St. Thomas University (Canada)
Episode: Leo Strauss's Natural Right and History (w/ Matt Dinan)
Jasper Craven
Freelance journalist specializing in military and veterans issues
Author of God Forgives, Brothers Don't
Episode: Military Education and American Manhood (w/ Jasper Craven)
Molly Crabapple
artist, author, activist
Here Where We Live Is Our Country, The Story of the Jewish Bund
Episode: The Bund: Fighting Fascism, Fighting Zionism (w/ Molly Crabapple)

Hosts

Matthew Sitman
Host of Know Your Enemy; co-host known for deep historical and philosophical analysis of American conservatism.
Sam Adler-Bell
Co-host known for rigorous critique and friendly scholarly dialogue with historical and political nuance.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.7k ratings
  • So many resonances

    I've been luridly curious about these conservative thinkers ever since I read George Orwell's great excoriation, "Second Thoughts on James Burnham." What an essay! But I can scarcely bear to read the conservatives' words unfiltered, so I'm grateful to Matt and Sam for teaching me about their all-to-influential ideas in an enjoyable format. These episodes are still my favorite kind: examinations of historical figures, or figures at some distance from electoral politics, in language that's ligh... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Felsina
    United States3 months ago
  • <3

    Know Your Enemy is one of the most thoughtful and intellectually rigorous podcasts around. The chemistry between Matt and Sam is exceptional—they bring out the best in each other, combining deep knowledge, curiosity, and humor. The show is a rare combination: firmly left-wing, deeply humanist, and allergic to both nihilism and tankie politics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheliaJ
    United States4 months ago
  • Great show

    I always look forward to new episodes and always finish them feeling like I understand the world a bit better.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dsflkdasjf
    United States5 months ago
  • A leftist guide to…

    …the continuing destruction of America.

    That’s what this podcast’s summary should state. Slop being pushed by a couple of talking heads doing the work of the tribe that destroys everything.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    none_of_ur...
    United States5 months ago
  • Bill Crystal?

    Lost me with the excitement over Bill Crystal. Not sure anymore where this podcast stands sometimes.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Coltrane75
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate the engaging dynamic between hosts and the high quality of guest selections.
Listeners frequently mention the show's ability to illuminate complex ideas without jargon.
Some listeners criticize perceived bias or wish for a broader range of guests with different viewpoints.
Many cite the hosts' deep historical and philosophical grounding as a strength.
Listeners praise the rigorous, thoughtful discourse and clear, accessible analysis.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#88
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#239
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#102
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#129
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#110
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#126
France/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

End Times Fascism (w/ Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor)
Q: What do you mean by end times fascism, and why combine these terms now?
We argue that fascism has an apocalyptic impulse that intensifies under planetary crises, and the current political moment fuses religious zeal, techno-oligarchic power, and ethno-nationalist anxieties into a single, dangerous alliance. The framing helps us see how different strands reinforce each other and why it's urgent to organize across these lines.
The Pump and Dump Presidency (w/ Jacob Silverman)
Q: Can you explain how World Liberty Financial fits into the Trump ecosystem and why it matters?
World Liberty Financial is a central vehicle connecting Trump family wealth to geopolitical players; its tokens and stablecoins enable soft influence operations, including a UAE stake in Binance via USD1, and it exemplifies how state wealth and private crypto ventures are entwined with policy decisions and international deals.
The Pump and Dump Presidency (w/ Jacob Silverman)
Q: What makes cryptocurrency particularly suitable for this kind of corruption, according to you?
Cryptocurrency provides speed, opacity, and global reach, allowing money to move quickly across borders with relatively little oversight, while stablecoins and meme coins create new, easy-to-ship value that can be tied to political favors and regulatory relief.
UNLOCKED: Tucker Carlson and the Anti-Israel Right (w/ Peter Beinart)
Q: How should the left respond to potential alliances with Carlson when his stance on certain issues aligns with human rights critiques?
They argue for a principled stance: engage where there is genuine alignment on policy without sacrificing core commitments to anti-racism and anti-Semitism denial, and resist letting anti-Semitism be normalized as a tactic for broader political goals.
Gerontocracy in America (w/ Sam Moyn)
Q: How should a welfare state be safeguarded while reducing gerontocratic power?
The guests advocate for a coalition-centered approach that expands entitlements with intergenerational fairness, ensuring care for the elderly while limiting the political economy that concentrates wealth in older cohorts.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Know Your Enemy

What is Know Your Enemy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A left-leaning analytical show that examines the American conservative movement through rigorous discussion, historical context, and guest perspectives. Across episodes, two co-hosts unpack ideological shifts, strategic messaging, and the cultural underpinnings of conservatism, often pairing deep textual analysis with contemporary political analysis. Notable strengths include careful close readings of political rhetoric, thoughtful guest sourcing from academia, journalism, and religion, and a consistent emphasis on historical roots and policy implications. A standout trait is the hosts' enduring friendship and intellectual curiosity, which helps translate complex ideas into accessible dialogue for listeners seeking deeper understanding of c... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Know Your Enemy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Know Your Enemy:

1. In Bed With The Right
2. The Dig
3. 5-4
4. American Prestige
5. Citations Needed

How many episodes of Know Your Enemy are there?

Know Your Enemy launched 7 years ago and published 286 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Know Your Enemy?

Recent guests on Know Your Enemy include:

1. Naomi Klein
2. Jacob Silverman
3. Aaron Regunberg
4. Jasper Nathaniel
5. Samuel Moyn
6. Jack Hanson
7. Matt Dinan
8. Jasper Craven

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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