Podcasts like this one are sometimes called "wide-ranging discussions".

Joe and John cover a lot of ground: genomics, AI, reckless leadership, tariffs, military service, freedom of speech, bags of money, private equity, woebegone Democrats, and China's seemingly endless property crisis. They even talk about Kamala Harris's new book.

Listen in.

Today, on episode 68 of Night Owls, Joe Klein is joined by a very special guest: H.R. McMaster. A graduate of Westpoint, he served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and retains distinguished careers in military leadership, policy, and history. His book Dereliction of Duty, a critical account of the Vietnam war, has become required reading throughout the military. His new book, At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House, was released in hardcover in August of last year. He is also the author of the History We Don't Know Substack. Here, McMaster discusses his journey from military service to becoming the National Security Advisor under Donald Trump. McMaster shares insights on counterinsurgency warfare, the complexities of U.S.-Russia relations, and the current state of American democracy. He emphasizes the importance of national service and the need for a united American identity, while also addressing the challenges posed by groups like Hamas in the Middle East. The discussion concludes with reflections on the future of U.S. foreign policy and the role of the military in society.

With the return of Night Owls, John Ellis and Joe Klein get back into the swing of things with a sprawling discussion of a number of topics; from the consequences of Israel's war with Hamas, to Russia entering Poland's airspace, to Jeffrey Epstein's money laundering, to the "Clankers" resistance rising up against AI, to public support for a third political party, to declining support for capitalism amongst Democrats and Independents. At the close: Joe's sad assessment of The New York Mets.