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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes289Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Know Your Enemy

Latest Episodes

In this episode, we're joined by Rozina Ali for a conversation about Seasons of Fury, her new book about the rise, persistence, and changing contours of Islamophobia in the United States, a story she tells through the lives of four very different Ame... more

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

In this episode we talk to our friend John Ganz about the nature and function of conservative intellectuals—or "intellectuals," whichever you prefer—past and pre... more

Dave Weigel is a longtime favorite political reporter of ours—someone we've both read for years, and find unusually unblinkered by partisan loyalties—so we couldn't think of a better guide to the 2026 midterms elections than him. What everyone knows ... more

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

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Recent Guests

Dave Weigel
Political reporter and columnist (Semafor)
Semafor
Episode: The Post-MAGA Midterms? (w/ David Weigel)
Astra Taylor
Documentary filmmaker and author
Independent
Episode: End Times Fascism (w/ Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor)
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]
Kim Phillips-Fein
Historian, Gardner, Kenneth T. Jackson Professor of History at Columbia University
Columbia University
Episode: The Long Struggle Against Equality in America (w/ Kim Phillips-Fein)
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)
Peter Beinart
Author and editor-at-large of Jewish Currents; Beinart Notebook author
Jewish Currents, Substack Beinart Notebook
Episode: UNLOCKED: Tucker Carlson and the Anti-Israel Right (w/ Peter Beinart)
Dorothy Fortenberry
Guest on the episode; political commentator discussing class and gender in politics
Episode: The Platner Ordeal (w/ Dorothy Fortenberry) [Teaser]

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 States6 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 States7 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
#85
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#193
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#79
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#129
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#92
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#149
Australia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Post-MAGA Midterms? (w/ David Weigel)
Q: What was your sense of the Dallas midterm convention on the ground?
Weigel describes the convention as effective in presenting a strong, unified show for the Trump-aligned wing, while noting some attendees worried about overreach and the difficulty of translating the energy into broader voter turnout.
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.

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. Jacobin Radio
5. Ordinary Unhappiness

How many episodes of Know Your Enemy are there?

Know Your Enemy launched 7 years ago and published 289 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. Dave Weigel
2. Astra Taylor
3. Naomi Klein
4. Jacob Silverman
5. Aaron Regunberg
6. Kim Phillips-Fein
7. Jasper Nathaniel
8. Peter Beinart

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