James Lileks
Bio
Writer, ex- columnist for @StarTribune because hey, the ash-heap waits for all, mid-century pop-culture enthusiast, hater of "quirky" last lines in online biosAppears in 46 Episodes
83 Percent, Zero Surrender Monkeys, and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
Day 21 of the Iran campaign. Qatar boots Iranian diplomats, European navies quietly show up, and a French sailor blows his carrier's position on Strava. Oil markets fr...
The Cardboard Ayatollah, The Drone War, and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
The latest from Operation Epic Fury, including U.S. casualties, a midair tanker collision over western Iraq, and the ongoing mystery of Iran's missing Supreme Leader. ...
Four Eyes, No Leader, a Submarine Called Charlotte and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
SecWar Hegseth and Admiral Cooper laid it all out at CENTCOM — and the message is simple: Iran hasn't seen anything yet. Plus, the Five Eyes lose one, the USS Charlott...
Hillary Clinton, Tehran, and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
Iran talks fail after three rounds as Tehran rules out dismantling nuclear facilities. Sen. John Kennedy explains why this isn't a new war — it's finishing one that's ...
The Boomerang Files, The Olympics, and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
The Left spent months certain Epstein would end Trump. Instead it's The View scrambling, Prince Andrew arrested, and Bill Clinton keeping quiet. U.S. women's hockey wi...
The SAVE Act Showdown and 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
Newsom spends billions he doesn't have, Trump gives Iran a month, and Democrats skip town mid-shutdown. Plus, The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week with James Lileks!Wa...
Bass Cooks the Books, Newsom Sells Snake Oil, and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
Karen Bass plays the race card. Newsom celebrates a concrete bridge to nowhere. And California Dems might jungle-primary themselves out of the governor's race. It's th...
B-52s, Batman, and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
While eight WaPo reporters beg Jeff Bezos not to fire them, here's what they're not covering: the US has assembled an armada, Iran's regime has killed 95,000 protester...
Trump's Arctic of the Deal and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
The Greenland deal is coming together and it's everything Trump needed: sovereign bases, rare earth minerals, and a frozen-out China. JD Vance delivers in Minneapolis,...
Iran, ICE, and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
91,000 tons of American strength heads to Iran as the "fake play" theory gains traction. In Minneapolis, Mayor Frey wants police fighting federal agents. In Beijing, C...
The Christmas Music Episode
2025 is coming to a close and we thought we'd do one more music episode to round out the year. Thanks to Lileks for being with us as always and to Best Hot Grills for ...
Trump Takes a Tanker, Democrats Take the Bait, and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
Trump seizes a Venezuelan ghost tanker, Democrats defend drug dealers, and gas hits $2 in some states. In the first half of the episode, I explain why Trump needs to r...
Why America Must Win the AI Race and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
Silicon Valley is going pro-America. Palantir's Alex Karp explains why the U.S. must win the AI race, what Constitutional values have to do with technology, and why we...
Shutdown Roulette and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
Democrats are playing a dangerous game. After election wins, Senate progressives convinced leadership to keep the shutdown going—until something catastrophic happens. ...
When You've Lost the Teamsters and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
The Schumer Shutdown continues and Democrats face a brewing crisis with their traditional base. Union leaders from the Teamsters, airline pilots, and federal employees...
Shutdown Theater and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
In the Shutdown About Nothing a.k.a. The Schumer Shutdown, everything is theater. They know it can't go on for long, and no one's laughing.James Lileks is around for T...
Let's Have a Trial and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a grand jury yesterday. I break it down and give you my reaction, then we get to The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week w...
Let's Have a Trial and The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week
Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted by a grand jury yesterday. I break it down and give you my reaction, then we get to The 10 Dumbest Things Said This Week w...