Podcast Archives - Dissent Magazine

Know Your Enemy: The Meaning of Pope Francis

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ April 28, 2025

Matt and Sam discuss the passing of Pope Francis, what his papacy meant, why he scandalized the Catholic right, and why his message feels so necessary and so far away.

Know Your Enemy: Becoming Elon Musk, Part Two

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ March 25, 2025

In the second of two episodes on Elon Musk, Matt and Sam examine key moments in the billionaire’s political derangement, his purchase of Twitter, and his role in Trump’s second term.

Know Your Enemy: Becoming Elon Musk, Part One

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ March 17, 2025

In the first of two episodes on Elon Musk, Matt and Sam explore the billionaire’s fraught adolescence and first years in Silicon Valley.

Know Your Enemy: Pay Attention!

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ February 19, 2025

Matt and Sam are joined by MSNBC’s Chris Hayes to discuss his new book The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource.

Know Your Enemy: Ayn Rand Against the World

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ February 10, 2025

Matt and Sam talk to historian Jennifer Burns about the fascinating life, and brutal philosophy, of Ayn Rand.

Know Your Enemy: The Entrepreneurial Ethic

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ January 21, 2025

Matt and Sam talk to historian Erik Baker about his new book, Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America.

Know Your Enemy: Women vs. the System

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ January 2, 2025

Matt and Sam welcome Dorothy Fortenberry back to the podcast to discuss gender, the 2024 election, and whether or not women can run against “the System.”

Know Your Enemy: Trump 2.0 and the Courts

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ December 19, 2024

Matt and Sam talk to the hosts of the 5-4 podcast about how Trump can remake the federal judiciary—and perhaps the broader justice system—during his second term.

Know Your Enemy: Organizing in Rural America

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ December 2, 2024

Matt and Sam talk to Luke Mayville of Reclaim Idaho about progressive organizing in rural and red America.

Know Your Enemy: Trump the Dove? Or Trump the Neocon?

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ November 21, 2024

Matt and Sam are joined by Curt Mills of the American Conservative to assess Trump’s national security team.

Know Your Enemy: Trump’s Triumph

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ November 8, 2024

Matt and Sam talk to reporter Ian Ward about Trump’s victory and the fight for influence in his second term.

Know Your Enemy: The Infernal Triangle

Matthew Sitman and Sam Adler-Bell ▪ October 25, 2024

Historian and journalist Rick Perlstein explains what Democrats and the media are (still) getting wrong about the threat from Trump and the far right.