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The Close Read Podcast

The Claremont Institute
Donald Trump
Covid-19
Claremont Review Of Books
Brexit
World War II
United Kingdom
Democratic Party
Russian Politics
Nigel Farage
Horace
Conservatism
Digital Services Act
Tchaikovsky
Republican Party
Conservatism In Russia
Liberalism In Russia
Vladimir Putin
Russian History
Constitutional Rights
Public Health Measures

Associate editor Spencer Klavan phones up authors whose CRB essays have prompted deeper reflection and discussion. Over a drink, he'll chat with the leading minds on the Right about what's going on in politics and literary culture. claremontinstitute.substack.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes83Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for The Close Read Podcast

Latest Episodes

Associate Editor Spencer Klavan his piece, “The Renegade Academy,” featured in the spring 2026 issue.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinstitute.substack.... more

As America continues to celebrate its 250th year in existence, Glenn Ellmers, Salvatori Research Fellow in the American Founding, sits down with host Spencer Klavan to illuminate the life, teaching, and significance of Harry Jaffa, godfather of the C... more

YouTube

Editor Charles Kesler hails the arrival of the Spring 2026 issue with Associate Editor Spencer Klavan. The issue, which went to press just after war broke out in Iran, features Charles's editor's note about Reagan's Cold War strategy and Trump's high... more

YouTube

Associate Editor Spencer Klavan reads “The Founders’ Cups,” Sam Schneider’s piece featured in the spring 2026 issue.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit claremontinst... more

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Recent Guests

Glenn Ellmers
Salvatore Research Fellow at the Claremont Institute
Claremont Institute
Episode: America 250: Harry Jaffa and the Declaration ft. Glenn Ellmers
Sam Schneider
Author of The Founders' Cups (from the Spring 2026 CRB issue)
Claremont Review of Books
Episode: "The Founders' Cups," by Sam Schneider
Lucas Morel
Senior Fellow of the Claremont Institute; Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University
Claremont Institute / Washington and Lee University
Episode: America 250: Lincoln and Equality ft. Lucas Morel
Lane Scott
Writer living in Angels Camp, California; author of Matriarch Goals
Independent writer; CRB essay author
Episode: Lane Scott on Stranger Things
Jeff Anderson
President of the American Main Street Initiative
American Main Street Initiative
Episode: Jeffrey Anderson on Parks and Desecration
Marcus Willishek
Philosophy professor at Goethe University, Frankfurt and author of 'Kant, A Revolution in Thinking'
Goethe University, Frankfurt
Episode: "Claustrophobic Metaphysics," by Edward Feser
Emmet Penney
Senior Fellow of the Foundation for American Innovation, contributing editor of Compact Magazine
Foundation for American Innovation
Episode: Emmet Penney on the Global AI Race
Matthew Schmitz
Editor of Compact magazine
Compact magazine
Episode: Matthew Schmitz on the New Theism
Helen Andrews
Author of 'Boomers', a critique of the baby boomer generation's influence on society
Episode: "Stardust," by Helen Andrews

Host

Spencer Klavan
Host of The Close Read Podcast, Associate Editor at CRB; frequent co-host with deep engagement in Western thought and conservative scholarship

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 183 ratings
  • Paper & Podcast

    I use the podcast to supplement and spice up my read of the physical Claremont Review of Books magazine. In a world where disintegration seems the primary force, the thinkers at Claremont give me inspiration and the intellectual fiber to put much of the current chaos into perspective.

    I especially enjoyed this recent podcast taking a look at the Spanish revolution. Thank you, I am one of the many who was said the simplistic version and never thought to question it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    old lady geologist
    United States4 years ago
  • The Best

    Privileged to have thought leaders of this caliber.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Calsal2020
    United States5 years ago
  • Need a new host

    The utter pretentiousness of the host, with fake laughter and all, is so bad it’s beyond parody. At first I could tolerate it by imagining Thurston Howell III, but even that shield ablated away quickly and I had to simply turn it off. Also the production values are amateurish. It’s too bad because, I agree, the content tends to be very enlightening.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    idolog
    United States6 years ago
  • Very insightful

    I really enjoy this podcast. I find it informative and engaging.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rainydayNH
    United States6 years ago
  • Trump propaganda trash

    Pathetic attempts to rationalize a far right viewpoint despite all evidence. Smacks of desperation and fear. If you’re in the Trump cult bubble, I assume you’ll be nodding your head to everything they say. If not, you’ll see right through it.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    The Offive Podcast
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality guests, deep dives into history and politics, great for background and context.
Occasional critiques of production quality or hosting style are noted by some listeners.
Smart, nuanced conversations that reward attentive listening and reading CRB material.
Thoughtful, rigorous analysis and insider access to conservative scholarship.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lane Scott on Stranger Things
Q: So, I want to start by telling you my relationship to Stranger Things and just ask you for your response.
Lane discusses her personal connection to the show through parenting and nostalgia, and explains how watching it with her children revealed conversations about maturity, virtue, and what middle childhood ought to be, which informed her analysis in Analog Kids.
America 250: Lincoln and Equality ft. Lucas Morel
Q: What is the relation between abolition, popular sovereignty, and Lincoln's strategic decisions during the Civil War?
The discussion highlights that Lincoln's approach balanced moral demand for universal rights with political prudence, using the war to preserve the union and eventually emancipate enslaved people, while arguing for a legal path grounded in constitutional authority.
America 250: Lincoln and Equality ft. Lucas Morel
Q: How does Lincoln's interpretation relate to the critique that he imposed a modern reading on the founders' intentions?
Morel notes that Lincoln did not deny the founders' statements but argued for a capacious, historically aware reading that acknowledged limits of who enjoyed rights in practice, while maintaining the universality of the rights themselves.
America 250: Lincoln and Equality ft. Lucas Morel
Q: Could we start with what Lincoln meant by the apples of gold and the pictures of silver in relation to the Declaration and the Constitution?
The apples of gold symbolize universal rights and liberty for all, while the pictures of silver refer to the constitutional framework that renders those rights real through enforcement and consent; Lincoln's point is that the Declaration articulates the right, but the Constitution structures its realization.
Matthew Schmitz on the New Theism
Q: Can you just say what you mean by it, just talk about what the New Theism is for our listeners?
The New Theism is a movement marked by a change in intellectual atmosphere where more thinkers are gravitating toward religious belief, reflecting a reckoning with what post-religious societies look like.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Close Read Podcast

What is The Close Read Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners likely tune in for deep dives into Western civilization, American founding principles, constitutional debates, and cultural criticism shaped by conservative scholarship. Episodes frequently feature discussions of Lincoln, Jaffa, Kranz, and CRB-driven cultural topics, with vivid historical framing, insider looks at academia, and critiques of modern public memory. The show tends to attract engaged readers and thinkers interested in philosophy, history, and culture, with a distinctive emphasis on preserving a classical canon and exploring how ideas flow from tradition into contemporary politics. Noteworthy is the host's habit of bringing in prominent scholars and authors to unpack complex texts over informal, drink-side conversations... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Close Read Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Close Read Podcast:

1. The American Mind Podcast
2. Young Heretics
3. First Things Podcast
4. 3 Whisky Happy Hour
5. City Journal Audio

How many episodes of The Close Read Podcast are there?

The Close Read Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 83 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 The Close Read Podcast?

Recent guests on The Close Read Podcast include:

1. Glenn Ellmers
2. Sam Schneider
3. Lucas Morel
4. Lane Scott
5. Jeff Anderson
6. Marcus Willishek
7. Emmet Penney
8. Matthew Schmitz

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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