Rephonic
Artwork for The Fifth Column
Donald Trump
Iran
Ukraine
Tariffs
Jeffrey Epstein
Venezuela
Israel
New York City
Trump Administration
Supreme Court
United States
Epstein Case
Political Violence
Cuba
Conspiracy Theories
Trump
Covid-19
American Revolution
Elon Musk
Charlie Kirk

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes697Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsComedy

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Fifth Column

Latest Episodes

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

Tyler Austin Harper, staff writer for The Atlantic and co-host of the Time To Say Goodbye podcast joins Michael C. Moynihan & Matt Welch to talk about extreme fishing, ... more

-Simplify, simplify, simplify…

-Do people like Jim as a boss?

-The two things to screen for in prospective employees

-The humility of Mike Allen

-AI and the newsroom

-The way you consume news is about to completely change

-Are we at the Napster... more

-RIP Andrew Wimsatt, a true friend of the show and beloved member of the Fifth Column community

-And in lighter news, it’s the 25th anniversary of 9/11

-Trump’s 9/11 story

-Why we’re called The Fifth Column

-When Matt Welch welcomed us to war

-M... more

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

As well as Epstein, and the conspiracy theories that refuse to die

-the most famous person from Troy, NY?

-shut your whore mouth, Producer Jason

-we actually do have... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Devlin Barrett
Author of The Department of Revenge; journalist
The Washington Post (journalist)
Episode: The Department Formerly Known as Justice (w/ Devlin Barrett) MO 343
James Meigs
Wall Street Journal, Free Expression columnist; senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute
Wall Street Journal; Manhattan Institute
Episode: Conspiracy Theories Never Die (w/ James B. Meigs) #573
William Shatner
Actor and public figure featured for an interview
Various (guest on the show)
Episode: Canada Calls Trump’s Bluff (#572)
Stephanie Slade
Senior Editor at Reason
Reason Magazine
Episode: Seize the Means of Conservatism (w/ Stephanie Slade) MO #340
Terry Moran
ABC News journalist with 28 years at ABC News, guest on the episode
ABC News
Episode: Terry Moran and the Network News Autopsy (Members Only #339)
Francesca Hong
Wisconsin political candidate discussed on the show
DSA (discussed)
Episode: The Politics of Pretending (Episode #570)
Zoran Mamdani
Political figure featured in clips and discussion
Local politics in New York/DSA context
Episode: The Politics of Pretending (Episode #570)
David Frum
The Atlantic staff writer
The Atlantic
Episode: A Man of 1989 (w/ David Frum) #569
Rick MacArthur
President and publisher of Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Episode: The Admirably Irresponsible Journalist w/ John R. MacArthur (Members Only #337)

Hosts

Kmele Foster
Host with libertarian-leaning conservative viewpoints; frequent interlocutor on media, policy, and culture.
Michael Moynihan
Co-host with background in journalism and media critique; engages in political analysis and media literacy.
Matt Welch
Co-host known for cultural commentary and libertarianish perspectives; contributes to policy and media discourse.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 4.4k ratings
  • I’m shocked they don’t like Memdhani

    Truly shocked. Bill Maheresque clowns.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Brudd3788
    United States23 days ago
  • Love these guys!

    Intelligent, irreverent and independent thinkers. Love the format and topics. And all this with a strong moral core. Really refreshing.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    designgirl555
    United Statesa month ago
  • I love this podcast

    Normal people with informative and entertaining takes on politics. The best!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Isaac’s Storm
    United Statesa month ago
  • Kat the Hypocrite

    The hypocrisy of Kat Rosenfield is extraordinary. Despite being a Kavanagh defender currently sitting on the Supreme Court Kat assails supporters of Platner who has been left along the roadside. The stupidity is amazing.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    80'sVillager
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many appreciate the guest variety, especially journalists and authors.
A common critique is the snark and interruptions can bury solid points.
Some listeners feel political alignment is clear, while others crave more balanced coverage.
Listeners praise the show's sharp analysis and guests, but call out frequent banter as distracting.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#191
United States/News
Apple Podcasts
#97
Israel/News
Apple Podcasts
#173
Ireland/News
Apple Podcasts
#187
Sweden/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
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Fifth Column

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

Sharp, often irreverent political commentary that blends analysis with humor, examining media, culture, and policy through a libertarian-leaning conservative lens. Episodes frequently feature high-profile journalists, authors, and scholars who dissect journalism practices, political strategies, and the evolving conservative movement, with a heavy emphasis on media literacy, polarization, and current events. Unique by design is a frequent mix of witty banter, provocative hypotheticals, and candid critiques of institutions, making it appealing to listeners who enjoy fearless, critique-forward conversations with guests across journalism, academia, and public policy.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Fifth Column?

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How many listeners does The Fifth Column get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Fifth Column?

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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 Moynihan Report
2. The Reason Roundtable
3. Conversations with Coleman
4. Blocked and Reported
5. The Glenn Show

How many episodes of The Fifth Column are there?

The Fifth Column launched 10 years ago and published 697 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. Devlin Barrett
2. James Meigs
3. William Shatner
4. Stephanie Slade
5. Terry Moran
6. Francesca Hong
7. Zoran Mamdani
8. David Frum

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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