The Ed Morrissey Show

Which development is worse – the MOU with Iran or the Obama presidential library? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss both, and we agree that the ugly architecture in Chicago will be with us a lot longer than any deal with the IRGC. We also discuss another of Andrew's popular "Memories" series and talk about presidential libraries and why we don't need them.

What do Dems plan if they win back control of the House? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss their obsession with Trump, and why it's going to land flat. We also talk about the Iran deal and why we're keeping our powder dry until we see the text of the MOU..Also: Does 60 Minutes suffer from delusions of virtue?

Can fact-checking ever recover its credibility? It's possible, author Matthew Hoy says, but we both agree it's highly unlikely. Hoy talks about his new book, Fact Checking Frauds: How Fact Checkers Distract, Deceive, and Destroy Our Politics. We discuss the origins of fact-checking, its initial promise, and its inevitable corruption – especially by the media.

Do you know who Scott Pelley is? We certainly do now that his hubris has been exposed. Andrew Malcolm and I propose some creative paths for insubordination for those who want to lose multi-million-dollar salaries. We also take a look at how the Bidens are hijacking the midterms from Democrats who just want them to go away.

Has Donald Trump "bitten off more than he can chew" with Iran? Former ambassador and congressman Francis Rooney talks about foreign policy in Trump's second term. He spent part of his career in Iran and thinks it's time to frame something up as a win and turn attention to China and Cuba. Ambassador Rooney also thinks the tariffs have been a bust, and perhaps more costly than Trump can afford at the moment.

Andrew Malcolm and I reunite after a couple of weeks off, and ... nothing much has changed in the war with Iran. We wonder whether Donald Trump has let an opportunity for victory slip away from him, and whether he's losing the patience and goodwill of the electorate by allowing the IRGC to drag this out. We also game out what happened in Texas, and why Trump's bold midterm strategy comes with a cost. We finish up with Jill Biden's book tour, and our Andy Rooney impersonations come out, too!

Did Democrats lose the Great Redistricting War? Andrew Malcolm and I reflect on the ways in which political stability might be the long-run loser, but this is actually just one battle in a long war Democrats have waged against Trump. And ironically, it actually started with the Clintons' war against the Bushes. We also discuss the war in Iran, as well as the latest from Los Angeles.

Based on the coverage of the war in Iran so far, we're at Year 11 with no end in sight. Andrew Malcolm and I return to review the media's relentless pessimism, and how Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth are pushing back – hard. We discuss Andrew's tribute to Mitch McConnell and how the GOP may miss him more than they think. We also wonder whether CNN is violating child labor laws in selecting panelists, and why Adam Mockler should be grateful that Scott Jennings didn't take a page out of Joe Biden's book last week.

"Nobody's playing games," Donald Trump declared. Andrew Malcolm and I say: Au contraire. We discuss Iran's attempts to stall for time, Trump's next moves, and whether Congress will reward Iran by kneecapping Trump via the War Powers Act. Andrew also discusses his latest column on the Eric Swalwell scandal, and how the Protection Racket Media failed America. Again.

What happened to Eric Swalwell's political career? Andrew Malcolm and I both agree that it ended when the congressman became inconvenient to California Democrats. How long did "reporters" know the truth about Swalwell, and why didn't they report it? We also discuss the new blockade on Iran and the options it opens for Donald Trump, and talk about the most famous Door Dash delivery in history.

The Washington Post had to correct a story that turned out to be IRGC propaganda. Why did the Post fail to vet this supposedly "independent" journalist that openly bragged that he was traveling to Iran at the regime's invitation to report on war crimes by the "Epstein regime"? Andrew Malcom and I discuss that, plus Donald Trump's long history of urging action on Iran.

Robert Joseph has spent much of his career dealing with nuclear arms and national security. He negotiated with Moammar Qaddafi to disarm Libya in 2003, ran the State Department's operations for Arms Control and International Security, and now advises the National Council of Resistance of Iran. He joins me in discussing the failure of appeasement, the necessity of Operation Epic Fury, and why the NCRI has a seat at the table when the IRGC and its regime finally implodes – if Donald Trump stays the course.

Does the war with Iran violate international law? Does international law even exist? NGO Monitor president Prof. Gerald Steinberg joins me from Jerusalem to explain why "international law" is largely a myth, and how Western appeasement of Iran has undermined even the myth for decades.

What are we to make of Bari Weiss' decision to shut down CBS News' radio service? Andrew Malcolm and I put it in perspective. We also discuss Donald Trump's ultimatum for Iran and its delay, as well as the constant doomspeak coming from the Protection Racket Media. Has Donald Trump created the first three-week quagmire in military history, or has the US media industry just decided to root for the other side?

Has the FDA thwarted Donald Trump on his Right to Try initiative in 2018? Angelina Olivera tells me about her son Ryu, who suffers from a rare disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Ryu is running out of time for an effective medical treatment, but the FDA is blocking access to one drug that shows great promise. Angelina talks to us about fighting the bureaucracy at the FDA, and the need to have promises kept now rather than somewhere down the road.

Can anyone in the White House press corps ask an intelligent question? Andrew Malcolm and I trade Andy Rooney impressions while discussing the impatience of the American media and the public it supposedly serves. The Protection Racket Media has covered the first seventeen days of a war as though we're sixteen days overdue for V-I Day. Plus, we talk about why this is all Abraham Lincoln's fault, based on our own memories of his Gettysburg Address.

America went to war with Iran this weekend. How did the media report it? Andrew Malcolm and I take a look at that question, along with the messages that Operation Epic Fury sends. Is China listening? Plus, I put down a Malcolm rebellion!

Donald Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term tonight. What will make this one different? Andrew Malcolm and I preview the speech, discuss the recent faceplants from Gavin Newsom and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the media's attempts to kickstart the 2028 presidential cycle.

Will Iran finally cut a deal on ballistic missiles and terrorism, or will a refusal result in an American military response? Middle East Forum's Jim Hanson analyzes the current deployments, games out the options, and reveals the capabilities of the massive force arrayed against the Islamic Republic. And what are the risks of a failed state?

Marco Rubio wowed Europe with his speech at the Munich Security Conference. But did he say anything different than J.D. Vance did a couple of weeks ago? Andrew Malcolm and I speculate on a good cop/bad cop dynamic from the Trump administration when it comes to Europe and NATO. We also weigh in on the speculative analysis and conspiracy theorizing over Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. Andrew takes a sharp look at Capitol Hill retirements, and we both share memories of the late, great Robert Duvall.

Bad Bunny or Kid Rock? Neither Andrew Malcolm nor I can pick a winner for sure in this game, but at least the Halftime Show War may have been more competitive than the game. We talk about the lost value of great defense in today's NFL, plus we both wonder how long the NFL can stage football in its current form.

What happened to the expected strike this weekend? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the dog that didn't bark, or rather the dog that didn't bite, and why Trump may have waited. Will Iran negotiate in good faith? Will our regional allies give us a green light if they don't? We also take a look at the trade deal with India, and whether that might bring Putin's war machine to a halt. Finally, we take a look at the latest propagandizing at the New York Times and CNN.

Will a change in the lineup give everyone some breathing room in Minneapolis? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the dramatic changes taking place in the standoff between Donald Trump, Tim Walz, and Jacob Frey, and why Tom Homan may be the right man to take charge. Where does that leave Kristi Noem? We also talk about Andrew's latest "Malcolm's Memories" column, getting the lowdown on the Great TP Shortage of 1973, and how to properly hold an Oscar.

Just how bad is the new Star Trek series from Paramount Plus? Our old friend Cranky T-Rex sits down with me for well over an hour to dissect the new entry in Alex Kurtzman's Trek universe, in which science disappears altogether and the fiction is barely above the Young Adult level. Both of us feel like we swallowed our own combadges after watching the free pilot on YouTube, but the problem isn't just the wokery. It's the disdain that Kurtzman has for Trek, and for the audience who loved it.

Donald Trump called for a 10% cap for annual percentage rates on credit cards. Will that help consumers, or strip most of them from access to credit? Phil Kerpen of AmericanCommitment.org explains the market impact such a regulation would create. We also work in a brief discussion of the latest Star Trek TV series, which deserves no credit at all.

Trump celebrated the first anniversary of his second non-consecutive term as president. What has he accomplished? Andrew Malcolm and I go over the report card, talk about Greenland, and what Trump needs to do with his second year after perhaps the most consequential first year possible.

For more than two years, the Left has demanded action against supposed genocide in Gaza. With the Iranian regime slaughtering thousands of unarmed protesters in the streets over the past week, the silence has become deafening. John Ondrasik talks about his Wall Street Journal essay calling out the Left and Hollywood for their moral cowardice, and much more.

The world is watching as the people of Iran stand up against their oppressors. Where are the US media, however? Andrew Malcolm and I dig into the silence that stretched nearly two weeks on what may be a world-changing event. Why is the Left so uninvested in Iranian liberty? And what exactly are they invested in?

For the past eleven days, protests have expanded across the entirety of Iran and have intensified. It now includes the merchant class in Tehran, which is the biggest difference from earlier popular movements, Gregg Roman of Middle East Forum explains. Learn why this changes the situation on the ground for the mullahs, what the West can and should do about it, and more importantly, what it shouldn't do.

They're celebrating 2026 in Venezuela, and the Maduros managed to get a Caribbean cruise, courtesy of the US Navy. Andrew Malcolm and I talk about the stunning seizure of Nicolas Maduro, what it says about the Trump administration, and how the media covered it. Plus: Are Democrats painting themselves into yet another corner by defending Maduro?

The media wants to make the conflict with Nicolas Maduro all about ideology and narcotics. Gregg Roman of Middle East Forum explains it goes much deeper. Hezbollah and the Iranian regime operate oil, narcotics, and terrorism rings that Maduro relies on to remain in power. We get into the real national security issues of having an Iranian puppet in the Western hemisphere.

Will Bari Weiss restore CBS News and 60 Minutes to greatness? If she's looking to find a new Andy Rooney, then Andrew Malcolm and Ed Morrissey have already begun to audition for the role. We discuss the fight over the pulled segment on deportations, Kamala Harris' new career on the speaking circuit, and what keeps Trump on top of his base.

Andrew Malcolm and I meet up after an avalanche of horrible news over the weekend. We discuss the terror attack in Australia that killed 15 people celebrating Hanukkah on the beach, a mass shooting at Brown University, and the heartbreaking murders of Rob Reiner and his wife. Has Australia missed the real lessons of the terror attack, or will its government deflect to pursue the progressive hobby horse agenda? Plus, we discuss the fragile grasp on humanity evident in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk assassination, even on certain fringe segments of the Right.

Has the Washington Post lost its way -- or has the outlet found it? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss their surprisingly clear and dispassionate analysis of Democrat disarray in Texas. We also talk about the sale of Warner Discovery and its potential impact on narrative amplification disguised as news.

Republicans face a key special election in Tennessee's 7th Congressional district. Did Donald Trump take too long to get on the ground in Nashville? Andrew Malcolm and I lay out the stakes for the GOP and Speaker Mike Johnson. We also talk about Andrew's dinner with William F. Buckley, and the column that Buckley wrote that never saw the light of day.

What does the departure of Marjorie Taylor Greene mean for Donald Trump and the GOP? Andrew Malcolm and I debate this political puzzler. We also talk about how Trump has approached the war in Ukraine, as well as his upcoming plan to deal with expiring ObamaCare subsidies.

Democrats pushed "temporary" expansions of ObamaCare subsidies during the pandemic. Now the deadline is approaching, and it's not just Democrats who want to avoid the implications. American Commitment's Phil Kerpen lays out the issues, the failures, and the entities who stand to benefit most in the negotiations. The bigger question is whether the US will have the fortitude to recognize the failures of health care policy and chart a new and very different rational course.

The future of the mullahs' regime in Tehran has become murky indeed after losing a war to Israel, having the US destroy its nuclear weapons development facilities, and now facing a severe water crisis. Author and human-rights advocate Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad discusses all of these issues, as well as the upcoming Free Iran Convention in Washington DC on November 15th. She tells us of her experiences under both the Shah and Ruhollah Khomeini, and why the National Council of the Resistance of Iran (NCRI) is best positioned to ensure a smooth transition from the theocratic regime to a secular representative republic.

Who won the Schumer Shutdown? Hint: It wasn't the man whose name it carries. Andrew Malcolm and I break down the breakdown over the weekend. We also talk about GOP messaging, and take a hard look at where SNAP funding goes.

Donald Trump took a victory lap on 60 Minutes Sunday, and Andrew Malcolm and I break it down. Chuck Schumer's midnight confessions come up as well. We also discuss new data on foreign money flowing into Democrat politics, and its impact on the party's orientation.

A new group on the Left has just diagnosed what ails the Democrats, and ... it won't come as any surprise. Andrew Malcolm and I talk about the warning from the Welcome project that radical politics means radical losses. Are there any moderates left in the party? I'm skeptical, but Andrew thinks one man may ride to the rescue.

What happened this weekend? Did America stand up to the monarchy, or did they turn out for anarchy? Andrew Malcolm and I reach way back to the Crimean War for a couple of reasons today, as well as the Battle of Rorke's Drift (IYKYK), and more. We dissect the Protection Racket Media's coverage of the No Kings rallies, and scoff at the idea that this has any significance other than a check box on the way to a Democrat retreat on the Schumer Shutdown.

Just how radically Left is Hollywood? Stunt man Erik Audé blows the lid off the stunt industry, where coordinators celebrate Charlie Kirk's assassination and threaten livelihoods of conservatives outraged over their rhetoric. Audé names names, discusses his friendship with Kirk, and the potential legal ramifications.

Few if any entertainers have been more engaged in supporting the hostages and their families than Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik. We discuss the joy of their release, the struggles facing those families who lost  loved ones over the last two years, and the hard work by Donald Trump and his team to achieve what seemed impossible a week earlier. John has plenty to say about the warped moral compass of the entertainment industry, and its origins in Academia. We also discuss his upcoming tour, and his wife Carla's new book, Stop Trying!

The only people not to recognize Donald Trump's efforts for world peace seem to congregate in Oslo. Andrew Malcolm scolds the ignoble Nobel Committee, but remains a bit skeptical about how Trump pulled off his magic trick with Gaza. What side deals may have made this possible? Plus, we wonder how Democrats pushing the shutdown will deal with such an ascendant president without looking like ankle-biters. Finally, Andrew has technical issues whenever the Cleveland Browns come up, for some reason...

The Bari Weiss Era begins at CBS News. Will she restore credibility and fairness to the Tiffany Network, or will Weiss get buried by the progressive establishment at CBS? Andrew Malcolm seems more optimistic than I am about the prospects. We also discuss the changes this week at the Washington Post. Plus: What does the Schumer Shutdown tell us about our political culture -- and does anyone really care?

Are you self-sabotaging by "trying"? Carla Ondrasik explains how to break the cycle that holds us back in careers, relationships, and everything else in her new book, Stop Trying: The Life-Transforming Power of Trying Less and Doing More. Carla and I have a great conversation about the book, her journey, and her passion for helping people break through.

Five for Fighting star John Ondrasik returns for a wide-ranging interview. We talk about entrepreneurship and shopping carts, as well as his music. His wife Carla has a new book coming out as well. However, we then delve deep into the Jimmy Kimmel controversy and free speech, in which John speaks as a creator in both music and commentary. That takes us to the topic of the Charlie Kirk memorial, Donald Trump's speech at the UN, Ukraine, and much more!

Jimmy Kimmel got suspended, then unsuspended, then held in limbo. Andrew Malcolm discusses whether this is a free speech issue or a market correction to a bad product. Also, is this yet another way in which Democrats are paving the way for a 2026 defeat?

The EPA wants to reverse not just the endangerment finding on carbon dioxide imposed on it, but also the Supreme Court precedent that enabled it. Phil Kerpen of American Commitment talks about his petition campaign to build support in the public comment period to reverse the endangerment rule. We discuss the challenges for Lee Zeldin in both the court and the political environment, and much more.