The Karol Markowicz Show

Karol Markowicz is joined by Jordan Schachtel, publisher of The Dossier , to break down the growing debate over artificial intelligence, AI “doomerism,” and the push for greater government regulation of the technology. Schachtel explains the concept of regulatory capture and why major AI companies could benefit from rules that make it harder for competitors to catch up. Karol and Jordan also discuss Mark Zuckerberg’s approach to AI safety, concerns that artificial intelligence could eliminate jobs, and why learning how to use AI may become essential for workers trying to stay competitive. Plus, they examine the push to slow AI development, whether schools should embrace or restrict AI tools, the future of humanoid robots, and Jordan’s prediction for what the AI-powered world could look like five years from now. The conversation closes on family, parenthood, and why avoiding envy and comparison can lead to a happier life. EMAIL RYAN See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karol Markowicz sits down with Wall Street Journal editorial board member Elliot Kaufman to discuss his new book, In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel’s Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis , co-authored with Jerusalem Post senior military analyst Yonah Jeremy Bob. The book reconstructs the internal debates and decisions that shaped Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks and the multifront conflict that followed. Kaufman takes listeners inside the Israeli war cabinet as leaders debated whether to strike Hamas in Gaza or confront the potentially larger threat from Hezbollah in Lebanon. He describes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s initial hesitation over a ground invasion of Gaza, concerns that Israeli troops could be walking into a heavily prepared battlefield, and why it ultimately took 20 days after October 7 for Israeli ground forces to enter Gaza. Kaufman also discusses Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah, including the internal deliberations surrounding Hassan Nasrallah and the decision not to give the Biden administration significant advance notice of the strike targeting him. According to Kaufman’s account, Israeli officials disagreed over whether Washington should be informed beforehand and how the United States might respond. Karol and Kaufman also examine the Biden administration’s approach to Israel during the war, the relationship between Netanyahu and Israel’s military leadership, and what Kaufman and Bob learned through years of reporting and interviews with senior political, military and intelligence officials. Finally, Kaufman discusses his path to journalism, his work covering Israel and Iran for The Wall Street Journal, his outlook for the American conservative movement, and why observing Shabbat has become one of the most meaningful parts of his life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show , Karol sits down with Jennifer Van Laar , managing editor of RedState and a leading investigative journalist known for uncovering major political stories. Jennifer shares her unconventional journey—from 20 years as a courtroom stenographer working on murder trials to becoming one of the most impactful investigative voices in conservative media. She explains how her courtroom experience taught her how to build cases, analyze evidence, and ultimately break major political stories. The conversation dives into the investigation that exposed former Rep. Katie Hill , the year-long reporting effort that scrutinized RNC leadership and spending , and the pressures journalists face when reporting critically on their own political side. Jennifer also discusses the evolving mission of RedState , why intellectual honesty matters in political media, and how conservative outlets balance breaking news with opinion. Karol and Jennifer also explore the future of California politics , the fallout from the Palisades fire, Governor Gavin Newsom’s leadership, and whether the political pendulum could swing back in the Golden State. Plus, Jennifer reflects on her personal life—raising three sons as a single mother, finding purpose through storytelling, and why discovering your strengths and “staying in your lane” may be the key to long-term success. Topics Covered in This Episode: Jennifer Van Laar’s path from court reporter to investigative journalist The RedState newsroom and conservative media today Major investigations that changed political careers Reporting on corruption within your own party California politics and the future of the state The importance of storytelling in journalism and life See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karol Markowicz sits down with Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee , for a wide-ranging conversation about comedy, censorship, free speech, faith, family, and the future of artificial intelligence. Dillon shares the unlikely story of how he became involved with The Babylon Bee, taking over the Christian satire site in 2018 and helping transform it into a major cultural force whose audience extends far beyond its original Christian conservative following. He also takes Karol inside one of the most consequential chapters in the Bee’s history: its suspension from Twitter after refusing to delete a controversial joke. Dillon explains why the company was willing to risk losing access to the platform rather than censor itself—and how the controversy caught the attention of Elon Musk as concerns over online speech and censorship intensified. Seth also opens up about fatherhood, the importance of speaking out even when there may be personal or professional consequences, and why serving others is one of his guiding principles. Finally, he looks ahead at how rapidly advancing AI and automation could fundamentally reshape the way people work, live and interact over the next five years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the Karol Markowicz Show, Karol sits down with Amy Swearer, one of America’s leading voices on the Second Amendment, criminal justice reform, and mental health policy. Amy shares her journey from wanting to become a police officer to becoming a legal and policy expert shaping national conversations on gun rights, overcriminalization, and constitutional law. They dive into the realities of gun violence, the role mental health plays in public policy, the future of Supreme Court battles over assault weapons bans, and why facts—not feelings—must guide policy decisions. Amy also opens up about marriage, ambition, and her philosophy on “strategic topography” — choosing the right hills to die on in life and politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conservative commentator and podcaster Brittany Hughes joins Karol Markowicz to discuss motherhood, faith, the culture wars, and what she sees as troubling changes taking place in American society. Hughes shares her journey from small-town newspaper reporter to political journalism and digital media, and explains why becoming a wife and mother shifted her focus toward cultural issues affecting families and children. She and Karol also discuss how women can pursue meaningful careers while prioritizing family — and why “having it all” doesn't necessarily mean having everything at the same time. Then, the conversation turns to the Lindsay Clancy trial and the reaction it has generated online. Hughes and Karol examine why some women have publicly identified with or defended Clancy, the difference between acknowledging the difficulties of motherhood and romanticizing extreme behavior, and what the reaction may reveal about attitudes toward motherhood, mental health, and victimhood in the social-media era. Hughes also sounds the alarm over growing sympathy for socialism and communism among younger Americans , while expressing optimism about the energy she sees among young conservatives. She explains why she believes Americans may need to see some of these political ideas fail in practice before attitudes begin to change. Finally, Hughes shares the principle she believes can most profoundly improve a person's life: surrendering to Jesus Christ, finding joy through faith, and pursuing a purpose greater than temporary happiness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karol Markowicz sits down with Kevin Smith, founder of Loud Majority and host of Loud Majority Live, for a wide-ranging conversation about grassroots activism, New York politics, the culture wars, and the power of getting involved at the local level. Kevin shares how the COVID lockdown era transformed him from a delivery driver into a political activist, beginning with Trump car parades across Long Island before expanding into school board races, local elections, campaigns, and political media. He explains why COVID restrictions awakened many Americans to the importance of local government—and why changing a school board or city council can sometimes have a more immediate impact on your life than national politics. Karol and Kevin also discuss the political transformation of Long Island, why so many New Yorkers are leaving the state, personal responsibility in an era of economic frustration, the WNBA and the culture wars, celebrities getting political, the decline of Hollywood entertainment, and whether American culture is beginning to shift away from ideological preaching. Plus, Kevin offers his prediction for the rise of economic populism and shares his advice for anyone who wants to improve their life: focus on what you can control, take responsibility, and don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karol Markowicz sits down with Zachary Kussin, real estate editor at the New York Post , for a wide-ranging conversation about journalism, New York City real estate, personal style, resilience, and the value of embracing who you really are. Kussin shares the unlikely story of how a Craigslist job posting helped launch his journalism career, eventually leading him from The Real Deal to the New York Post. He explains what makes real estate reporting such a unique beat and how years of hard work, unexpected opportunities, and a little luck shaped his career. The conversation also turns personal as Kussin recounts losing nearly everything when a seven-alarm fire tore through his New York City apartment building. The experience gave him an opportunity to rebuild—not just his home, but a space that genuinely reflected his personality, travels, and lifelong love of antiques, vintage jewelry, fashion, and design. Karol and Zachary discuss growing more confident with age, finding your people, developing meaningful relationships, pursuing unconventional passions, and refusing to change yourself simply to fit other people's expectations. Kussin also shares his philosophy for living a happier life: embrace adventure, pursue what genuinely interests you, take chances even when you don't know the outcome, and have the confidence to be yourself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America has a crisis of young men—and Tony Woodlief believes fatherhood, faith, and stronger communities could be part of the answer. On The Karol Markowicz Show, Karol sits down with writer, political scientist, and author Tony Woodlief for a wide-ranging conversation about fatherhood, masculinity, parenting, faith, politics, education, artificial intelligence, and finding purpose in an increasingly disconnected culture. Woodlief explains why he believes too many young men have been left without meaningful friendships, employment, education, or connections to institutions and communities. He discusses the difference between simply being a parent and intentionally being a father, why modern portrayals of masculinity often miss the mark, and what can be done to help men searching for direction and purpose. Karol and Tony also explore his unconventional approach to politics and federalism, including why he believes massive school districts have weakened parents’ control over their children's education and why breaking them into smaller, locally accountable districts could produce better results. Plus, Tony offers his provocative prediction about artificial intelligence and the future of writing and art, explains why AI may expose rather than destroy bad creative work, and shares the simple daily practice he believes can dramatically improve your life: intentional gratitude. It’s a thoughtful conversation about raising children, becoming better men, strengthening families, reclaiming local control, and finding meaning in a rapidly changing America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nic Carter, general partner at Castle Island Ventures, joins Karol Markowicz to discuss artificial intelligence, the future of work, Bitcoin and crypto, venture capital, Operation Choke Point 2.0 and why he believes money and businesses will increasingly flee blue states for red states. Carter explains his unconventional journey from aspiring journalist to becoming obsessed with Bitcoin, working at Fidelity and ultimately co-founding a venture capital firm focused on blockchain, crypto and financial technology. With AI rapidly transforming white-collar work, what should young people do to prepare? Carter explains why his old advice — prove yourself by writing something great — no longer works the way it once did. Instead, he argues that becoming highly skilled at using AI could provide a major career advantage, while warning that people shouldn't allow artificial intelligence to replace their own critical thinking and cognitive skills. Carter also tells the story behind Operation Choke Point 2.0, the term he coined while investigating what he describes as the Biden administration's debanking of legal crypto companies. His reporting eventually became part of the national political conversation and was embraced by Donald Trump. Finally, Carter makes a major five-year prediction: capital, businesses and productive workers will increasingly migrate from blue states to red states such as Florida and Texas. He explains why taxes, regulation and potential wealth taxes could accelerate that shift — and why once powerful economic network effects begin to break, the exodus could happen quickly. Plus, Carter shares why personal relationships will remain valuable in an AI-driven economy, how X helped build his career and professional network, and his advice for avoiding lifestyle inflation and the pressure to impress other successful people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the key to building a successful life isn’t having everything figured out—but simply doing the job that’s right in front of you? On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show , Karol sits down with Matthew Hennessey , editor of Free Expression at The Wall Street Journal , for a wide-ranging conversation about career, marriage, ambition, failure, and finding your path in life. Hennessey shares his unconventional journey from chasing an acting career in Hollywood to becoming a journalist and eventually landing at The Wall Street Journal. He explains why meeting his wife became a pivotal moment in both his personal life and career, and why young people may have it backwards when they believe they need to establish themselves professionally before getting married. Karol and Matthew also discuss the value of taking risks, learning to do difficult things, supporting children as they pursue uncertain dreams, and why success often comes one small step at a time. Hennessey also explains what The Wall Street Journal represents beyond finance and Wall Street, shares his concerns about the possibility of a major economic downturn, and offers a surprisingly optimistic perspective on artificial intelligence and the economy. Finally, he leaves listeners with a simple piece of advice that has guided his career and life: Do the job that’s in front of you, and the future will take care of itself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karol Markowicz sits down with Miriam “Mock” Weaver and Amy Jo “Daisy” Clark of Chicks on the Right for a candid conversation about the growing divisions inside conservative media, speaking out when it’s unpopular, and what they believe is happening to the American right. Mock and Daisy explain why they were willing to publicly criticize prominent conservative voices including Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, why authenticity has been central to Chicks on the Right’s success, and how they built a fiercely loyal audience over more than 17 years of political commentary. They also share the unlikely story of how Chicks on the Right began, their transition from corporate careers to blogging, radio and podcasting, and why patriotism remains at the heart of their show. Karol, Mock and Daisy also debate where America could be headed over the next five years, the political divide between left and right, the influence of AI and technology on culture, the future of younger generations, and whether Americans have reason to be optimistic about the country. Plus, Mock opens up about resilience after suffering a stroke and losing her son, while Daisy discusses family, gratitude and the importance of continuing to learn at every stage of life. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about conservative media, friendship, resilience, patriotism and why Mock’s advice remains simple: never bet against America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show , Karol sits down with National Review staff writer Jeffrey Blehar for a wide-ranging conversation about politics, music, media, and the future of American culture. Blehar shares his unconventional path from practicing law to political commentary, explains why authenticity matters more than partisan loyalty, and discusses the philosophy that guides his writing. The conversation also explores Blehar's popular Political Beats podcast, where political personalities leave politics behind to discuss their favorite music. Together, Karol and Jeff examine whether it's possible to separate artists from their political beliefs and why music can transcend ideology. Finally, Blehar offers his predictions for America's future, warning about increasing political polarization, the erosion of reading and literacy, and a culture increasingly driven by podcasts, video, and social media instead of books. He closes with a reminder not to make politics your religion—a lesson he believes is essential for preserving perspective in today's polarized world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fox News Radio political analyst and Jewish Insider Editor-in-Chief Josh Kraushaar joins The Karol Markowicz Show for an in-depth conversation about journalism, American politics, the rise of antisemitism, and why he remains optimistic about the country's future. Josh reflects on his career covering presidential campaigns and elections, explains how the media landscape has changed over the past three decades, and shares why understanding voters—not political elites—is the key to making sense of American politics. The conversation also explores the alarming rise of antisemitism following October 7, the changing relationship between American Jews and the Democratic Party, the role social media has played in fueling division, and why Josh believes history shows America has the resilience to recover from its current challenges. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show , Karol sits down with John McCormick , senior editor at The Dispatch , for a thoughtful conversation on journalism, politics, media, history, and the values that matter most. John reflects on his path from conservative college columnist to reporting for National Review , The Weekly Standard , and The Dispatch . He shares why political debate has become less productive, how social media has changed public discourse, and why he still believes respectful disagreements are essential to a healthy democracy. The conversation also explores the future of American politics, the importance of history, balancing career ambitions with family life, and why faith and family remain the foundation of a meaningful life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Review senior writer Dan McLaughlin joins The Karol Markowicz Show for a wide-ranging conversation about history, politics, constitutional law, and why understanding the past is essential to navigating America's future. Dan shares his fascinating journey from practicing attorney to one of conservative media's leading writers, discusses his ambitious upcoming history book covering the transformative years of 1851-1857, and explains how events from more than 170 years ago continue to shape today's political landscape. Karol and Dan also explore the long-term effects of the COVID pandemic, the rise of artificial intelligence, declining reading habits, political engagement, and why today's cultural battles often echo history. Dan closes with practical advice on succeeding professionally without creating unnecessary enemies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show , Karol sits down with Peter Suderman , features editor at Reason Magazine , host of The Reason Roundtable podcast, and creator of the Cocktails with Suderman newsletter, for a wide-ranging conversation about culture, creativity, and connection. Peter shares how his passion for craft cocktails grew from a curiosity into a deeper appreciation for hospitality, friendship, and the art of bringing people together. He explains why making drinks at home has exploded in popularity, whether Gen Z’s move away from alcohol signals a lasting cultural shift, and why social spaces still matter for creativity and innovation. Karol and Peter also discuss remote work, the importance of in-person conversations, how the pandemic reshaped social habits, and why YouTube could become the dominant force shaping the future of entertainment, podcasts, and media. Plus, Peter reflects on his career at Reason , his marriage to fellow journalist Megan McArdle, and why his best life advice is simple: find your people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show , Karol sits down with legendary economist and libertarian scholar Dr. Walter Block for a wide-ranging conversation on economics, socialism, Israel, free markets, and the future of America. Block explains why basic economic principles have become so controversial, reflects on his intellectual journey from socialism to libertarianism, and shares how Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged and Henry Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson completely changed his worldview. The discussion also explores the political shift in New York City, the growing popularity of socialist ideas among younger Americans, the debate over Israel within libertarian circles, and whether lasting peace in the Middle East is finally within reach. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show , Karol sits down with Dr. Helen Smith —psychologist, bestselling author of Men on Strike , and author of the new book His Side: Men Speak Out on Dating, Marriage, and Life in America . Drawing on years of research and firsthand interviews, Dr. Smith explains why so many men feel overlooked, disrespected, and disconnected in modern society. She discusses the changing dynamics of dating and marriage, the importance of fathers, how boys are navigating today's culture, and why she believes listening to men's experiences has become more important than ever. Karol and Dr. Smith also explore the impact of social media, education, workplace culture, and public policy on young men, while offering practical advice for parents raising sons in today's world. The conversation concludes with a discussion about empathy, family, and why meaningful dialogue between men and women is essential for a healthier society. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show , Karol sits down with Jonathan Hammel —physician, novelist, composer, and host of the Blood Flow podcast—to discuss his powerful new novel, The Jewish Hospital . Inspired by the real-life experiences of Hamill's grandmother, who served as a nurse in Berlin's Jewish Hospital during World War II, the conversation explores one of history's lesser-known stories: how a Jewish hospital continued operating in Nazi Berlin while doctors, nurses, and patients lived under constant threat of deportation. Jonathan explains how years of research, family interviews, and historical records shaped the novel, while also examining the difficult ethical questions medical professionals faced under unimaginable circumstances. He also discusses why the book is being taught in medical bioethics programs, what modern healthcare can learn from history, and why he believes authentic human creativity will remain essential—even in the age of artificial intelligence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.