The Moynihan Report

-Moynihan's Introduction
-Cocaine, Basquiat, and the Odeon
-The Making of Bright Lights, Big City
-Meeting Raymond Carver
-Writing, Aging, and Looking Back
-Becoming a Literary Celebrity
-Writing in the Aftermath of 9/11
-Politics, Mamdani, and Angela Davis
-Cancel Culture and Censorship in Publishing
-COVID and the Deserted City
-The Lost World of 1980s New York
-Brain Surgery, Heart Surgery, and Mortality
-Writing a Memoir and Revisiting the Past
-Rielle Hunter and the John Edwards Scandal
-Quitting Cocaine and Confronting Addiction
-The Friends Who Didn't Survive
-What's Left to Accomplish
Monologue photo provided courtesy of the Odeon (in the intro)



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Historian and bestselling author Simon Sebag Montefiore joins Michael Moynihan to discuss his new book, The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East, and the history behind one of the world's most contested regions. They examine the myths surrounding Israel's founding, the Palestinian Nakba, the rise and fall of Arab nationalism, and the emergence of political Islam. Montefiore challenges the popular decolonization narrative, explains why the Iranian Revolution of 1979 transformed the region, and considers why Western audiences, particularly younger generations, have embraced increasingly distorted versions of Middle Eastern history. Along the way, they discuss antisemitism, the failures of Israeli leadership, the prospects for democracy in the Arab world, and whether Israelis and Palestinians can ever reach a lasting political settlement.
Chapters
-From Russia to the Middle East
-Antisemitism and Montefiore's Family History
-The Internet and the Persistence of Historical Myths
-Why Historians Need to Speak Up
-Challenging the Settler-Colonial Narrative
-Criticizing Israel vs. Antisemitism
-Why Is the West Obsessed With the Middle East?
-Anti-Colonialism and the New Crusaders
-Was the 1948 War Inevitable?
-The Nakba and the Palestinian Exodus
-Zionism Before 1948
-From Left-Wing Radicalism to Islamism
-Nasser and the Muslim Brotherhood
-Why the Iranian Revolution Changed Everything
-Can Democracy Take Root in the Middle East?
-How the West's View of Israel Changed
-The Future of a Two-State Solution
-The Biggest Misconception About the Middle East

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Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney joins Michael Moynihan to discuss his new film, Musk, a critical examination of Elon Musk's rise to extraordinary wealth and political power. They debate Musk's genuine achievements at Tesla and SpaceX, his transformation into a Trump ally, and whether his greatest talent is innovation or self-promotion. Gibney also defends the film's more controversial claims involving Ashley St. Clair, the 2024 election, DOGE, and access to sensitive government data, while Moynihan presses him on the line between legitimate investigation and conspiracy theory. Plus, Tesla's self-driving promises, the dangers of AI, and why Gibney believes Musk is ultimately a confidence man.

(0:00) Cold Open
(0:03) Monologue
(1:09) Musk’s Accomplishments at Tesla and SpaceX
(3:14) The Myth of Elon Musk
(5:45) Musk’s Political Transformation
(9:07) The Politics of Rage
(11:53) Interviewing Elon’s Father
(13:41) Musk’s Break With Trump
(17:22) Musk’s Attacks on Gibney
(18:22) Ashley St. Clair and Her Credibility
(22:31) Musk and the 2024 Election
(26:58) DOGE and Government Data
(30:46) Evidence vs. Speculation
(33:33) Starlink, Government Contracts, and Crony Capitalism
(36:07) Musk and the Dangers of AI
(40:03) Tesla’s Self-Driving Claims
(44:39) Musk’s Greatest Talent: Selling the Future
(46:44) Is Elon Musk a Con Man?
(50:58) Walter Isaacson’s Musk Biography
(54:00) Is Musk a Genius or a Villain?
(56:15) Money and Political Influence
(58:30) Musk’s Drug Use and Behavior
(1:00:00) Self-Delusion and Noble Cause Corruption

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Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joby Warrick joins Michael Moynihan to tell the story of Carlos the Jackal, the Venezuelan Marxist who became the world’s most notorious terrorist. They discuss his rise through the Palestinian militant movement, his ties to the Soviet bloc, and the governments that allowed him to operate across Europe and the Middle East for decades. Warrick also recounts meeting an unrepentant Carlos in a French prison and explains how his brand of international terrorism anticipated Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the decentralized political violence of today.
We're nominated for Signal Awards! Vote for The Moynihan Report for:
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Also: The Fifth Column is in the running for Best News & Politics show: https://bit.ly/3U0K8ST
CHAPTERS
(0:00) Cold Open
(0:20) Intro
(1:44) Becoming Carlos the Jackal
(5:10) Terrorism, Marxism and Antisemitism
(8:34) The Paris Grenade Attack
(11:35) Why Europe Paid Off Terrorists
(15:42) The Soviet Terror Network
(22:49) Terrorism and the Palestinian Cause
(28:20) Meeting Carlos in Prison
(35:55) Carlos and the Nazis
(39:02) From Marxism to Radical Islam
(41:58) The CIA Informant Who Betrayed Carlos
(44:45) How Dictators Protected the Jackal
(47:02) The Legacy of 1970s Terrorism
(49:21) What Happened to Al-Qaeda and ISIS?
(52:45) Israel and the Axis of Resistance
(56:08) Political Violence Today

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Michael Musto Is Mr. Adjacent
Village Voice and NYC icon Michael Musto joins Michael Moynihan for a tour through the New York he chronicled from the inside, from growing up gay in Bensonhurst to the glory days of downtown nightlife, celebrity gossip, the Club Kids, Michael Alig, ACT UP, RuPaul, and the AIDS crisis.
They also talk about outing celebrities, Rosie O’Donnell calling Musto a “gay Nazi,” the changing city, and what it meant to spend decades watching New York culture from just off center.

Chapters
-Growing Up Gay in Bensonhurst
-Escaping Brooklyn for Manhattan
-Outing Celebrities
-Blind Items and Village Voice Lawyers
-Michael Alig and the Angel Melendez Murder
-Old New York and Gentrification
-Mamdani
-Making Money in Journalism
-Was Musto Too Mean?
-When Straight People Call Themselves Queer
-AIDS
-What Happened to the Old Club Scene?
-Mr. Adjacent



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