Rephonic
Artwork for The Fifth Column
Donald Trump
Tariffs
Iran
Ukraine
Trump Administration
Jeffrey Epstein
Venezuela
Israel
New York City
Supreme Court
Economics
Epstein Case
Republican Party
Political Violence
Cuba
Trump
Covid-19
Kamala Harris
Elon Musk
RFK Jr.

Your weekly rhetorical assault on the on the news cycle, the people who make it, and occasionally ourselves. Kmele Foster (Freethink), Michael Moynihan (Vice), and Matt Welch (Reason) talk and laugh and drink their way to at least quasi-sanity in a world gone mad, often with the aid of clean and articulate guests. Weekly Members Only subscription edition often comes with listener mail and professi... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes685Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsComedy

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Fifth Column

Latest Episodes

-a pre-obit for the esteemed David Frum

-involuntarily unionized at The Atlantic

-spy novels, bureaucrats and expense reports

-turning down Bill Buckley’s golden ticket

-prosperity, security and how quickly it can all disappear

-Frum is forever ... more

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.wethefifth.com

Michael Moynihan has returned from his Italian sojourn where he barely escaped arrest…

-Moynihan has the clap or something

-Who exactly is the demographic for this sh... more

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.wethefifth.com

So that’s where these Genius Grants come from…

-Most roads lead back to Prague for Matt Welch

-about that letter…six paragraphs, $5 million in free publicity and Harp... more

Jesse Singal of Blocked and Reported and Singal-Minded fills Michael Moynihan’s special diabetic chair to discuss Fauci’s diaries, broken institutions, runaway AI, LeBron and Mamdani Mart.

-Moynihan out, Jesse Singal in

-Bari Weiss hired everyone e... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Rick MacArthur
President and publisher of Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Episode: The Admirably Irresponsible Journalist w/ John R. MacArthur (Members Only #337)
Jesse Singal
Guest on episode, science communication perspective
Episode: The Fifth Gets a Substitute Teacher (w/ Jesse Singal) #568
Frank Dikötter
Historian and author of Red Dawn Over China
Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Episode: The Temple Is Rich. The Monks Are Poor (w/ Frank Dikötter) Members Only #336
Chris Cuomo
TV news anchor, former CNN host
CNN (former); ABC News (former)
Episode: I Don’t Make Mistakes Anymore. They’re Just Lies (w/ Chris Cuomo) #567
Maggie Haberman
Senior political journalist for The New York Times
The New York Times
Episode: The Gold-Plated Imperial Presidency (w/ Maggie Haberman) Members Only #335
Robert Wright
Author of The God Test and media/political commentator
Author, The God Test
Episode: Failing "The God Test" (w/ Robert Wright) - Members Only #333
Kat Rosenfield
Culture writer and commentator
Independent
Episode: Are We the Baddies? The Graham Platner Reckoning (w/ Kat Rosenfield) - #565
Peter Meijer
Former congressman
Episode: The Revolution Will Be Staffed by PhDs (w/co-host Peter Meijer) - #564
Dr. Drew Pinsky
Medical doctor and media personality
Love Line / Dr. Drew Show
Episode: Adam Carolla Has Nowhere Else to Go (Members Only #332)

Hosts

Kmele Foster
Host, The Fifth Column; affiliated with Freethink and The Fifth Column; long-running contributor with a focus on media literacy, politics, and cultural critique.
Michael Moynihan
Co-host; contributes as a veteran journalist and commentator with affiliations including Vice and The Fifth Column.
Matt Welch
Co-host; prominent writer and editor with ties to Reason magazine and The Fifth Column.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 4.4k ratings
  • Mixed review

    Some of the content is good. Some of the joking and interrupting goes way too far. Some of the jokes are irritating and sophomoric. When the speakers are focused the content is good.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    sssqueeze
    United States10 days ago
  • It’s gotten better

    A year or so ago, I gave it one star. Just like a hundred other pods, it was all Trump bashing. Maybe they realized how tedious it was getting; they seem to have cut back on this.

    I like the topics and the guests, but the witty banter is hard to take. Maybe I’m getting cranky in my old age, but combine this with no one’s ability complete a sentence and it’s hard to follow. The recent episode with Jessie Singal was a good example. There were great points I wanted to hear about, but they got bu... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Samson38$
    United States11 days ago
  • Kmele’s Folly

    Kmele you made a fool of yourself asserting mainstream media was calling for defunding the police and no one on the left batted an eye. Actually Biden rejected DeFund the police from the rip arguing FUND the police! Even a mainstream hack like Carville called it the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    80'sVillager
    United States12 days ago
  • Obama republican

    Why would I pay for this? It’s sometimes pretty good.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Kayakeb
    United Statesa month ago
  • Fart sniffers

    These guys love the smell of their own farts.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Brudd3788
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The show's candor and willingness to challenge mainstream narratives are noted as strengths by many fans.
Listeners appreciate the balance of humor and rigorous analysis, often highlighting sharp, logical takes on complex issues.
Guest quality and diverse topics are frequently praised, though there are negative reactions to certain political stances or interview dynamics.
A few listeners view the format as entertaining and informative, while others find it grating or polarizing.
Some reviews call the hosts witty and insightful, while others criticize perceived bias or intolerant tones.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#132
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#110
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#118
Sweden/News
Apple Podcasts
#157
Chile/News
Apple Podcasts
#163
New Zealand/News
Apple Podcasts
#167
Philippines/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

One-Hitter: Sarah Isgur Explains the Supreme Court’s Big Finish (Members Only #331)
Q: Did this birthright citizenship decision surprise you in any way?
Sarah explains that while the decision was a significant political moment, legally it wasn't as monumental as the length of the opinion suggested, and the real impact lies in the federal and state implementation rather than a dramatic constitutional shift.
Ben Rhodes and the Evil Empire State of Mind (#559)
Q: How does he view the role of sanctions versus engagement with Cuba and other adversaries?
Rhodes argues for a calibrated approach where engagement and economic openness can undercut authoritarian control (as with Cuba), but stresses that strategic incentives and institutions are necessary to channel support in ways that empower ordinary people rather than the regime.
Matt Yglesias on Cancellation, Mamdani, and the AI Panic (Members Only #321)
Q: Hi, Matt. How are you?
Matt says he's great and happy to be on the show, appreciating the opportunity to discuss these topics.
Is Apple Still Apple? #550 (w/ David Pogue)
Q: What about the broader AI landscape and the sustainability of the current investment frenzy in AI companies?
The guests express skepticism about a rapid, uniform profitability across AI giants, forecasting a piecemeal, long‑term transition with potential regulation shaping the market, rather than an immediate, broad profits surge.
Is Apple Still Apple? #550 (w/ David Pogue)
Q: Let's talk specifically about Apple's AI efforts and what we should expect going forward.
Apple missed the generative AI rush initially but intends to integrate AI in a privacy‑preserving way, using on‑device features and a controlled server‑side path with transparency and a strong emphasis on user privacy.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Fifth Column

What is The Fifth Column about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program offers sharp, often provocative takes on current events, media, and politics, pairing witty banter with substantive dialogue. Episodes frequently center on how institutions, power dynamics, and public discourse shape policy and culture, with deep dives into topics like justice, geopolitics, cancel culture, and media ethics. Guests range from lawyers and journalists to politicians and academics, providing informed perspectives that push hosts to unpack assumptions and expose logical fallacies. The tone blends humor with rigorous critique, making it appealing to listeners who enjoy both entertainment and thoughtful analysis of today's news cycle. A few episodes lean into live-show energy and insider anecdotes, offering a candid, ... more

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How many subscribers and views does The Fifth Column have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Fifth Column has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Fifth Column?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Fifth Column:

1. The Reason Roundtable
2. Blocked and Reported
3. Conversations with Coleman
4. The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
5. Breaking History

How many episodes of The Fifth Column are there?

The Fifth Column launched 10 years ago and published 685 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Fifth Column?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Fifth Column?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Fifth Column from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Fifth Column?

Recent guests on The Fifth Column include:

1. Rick MacArthur
2. Jesse Singal
3. Frank Dikötter
4. Chris Cuomo
5. Maggie Haberman
6. Robert Wright
7. Kat Rosenfield
8. Peter Meijer

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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